Directions

• Biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 400˚F.
• Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together. Add butter and shortening and cut into the dry mixture, until a coarse mealy texture forms. Stir in buttermilk until just incorporated and turn mixture out onto a clean and lightly floured surface. Knead until a dough just comes together, make sure not to overwork.
• Press dough together to form a 1 inch thick square and cut dough into 8 equal pieces. Place biscuits onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Brush the surface of each biscuit with buttermilk. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until biscuits have risen and are golden brown.
• Set aside and allow biscuits to cool slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Sausage Gravy:
• Pour oil into a saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sausage and continue to sauté, while crumbling the sausage.
• Once the sausage has browned, about 3 to 4 minutes, remove from heat and set aside. Drain grease from saucepan. Add butter and melt. Whisk in the flour and continue for 2 to 3 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
• Whisk in the milk until no lumps remain. Season with salt and pepper. Lower heat to medium and continue to stir until gravy thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir sausage mixture back into the gravy and add herbs, if using.
• Simmer gravy for 2 to 3 minutes and adjust seasoning.
• Chicken Fried Steak Eggs Benedict:
• Place flour, garlic powder and onion powder in a shallow dish and stir together. Place eggs and buttermilk in another shallow dish and whisk together. Fill a heavy bottom skillet with about 2 inches of oil and bring up to medium-high heat. Season each cube steak with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each in the flour mixture and shake off excess. Dip the steaks into the egg mixture until fully coated then again in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
• Carefully place a few steaks into the hot oil and fry on each side for 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Repeat until all chicken fried steaks have been cooked. Place a small nonstick pan over medium-high heat and add ½ tablespoon oil. Crack an egg and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip egg and continue to fry for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
• To assemble: Slice biscuits in half. Place steaks over half biscuits and top with fried egg. Finish with a ladle of gravy over each country style Benedict and serve each piping hot with other halves of biscuits on the side.