In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, green onions, milk, Essence, salt, and pepper until frothy.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook, stirring, until hot and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the eggs are soft and creamy and just set in large curds, 1 1/2 minutes for soft scrambled to 2 minutes for a hard scramble. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

Place 2 split biscuits on each of 4 large plates. Spoon the egg mixture onto the bottom biscuits and arrange the tops to make sandwiches.

Serve immediately.

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Recipe from “New New Orleans Cooking”, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch

Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

1 1/4 cups self-rising flour

3/4 cup cake flour

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter cut into pieces

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and position the rack in the center of the oven.

Into a medium bowl, sift together the self-rising flour, cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, work the cold butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the heavy cream and, using your hands or a rubber spatula, stir just until the cream and flour come together to form a moist dough, being careful not to overmix!

Sprinkle some of the all-purpose flour on a flat surface and place the dough on top of the flour. Using your hands, pat the dough into a 1/2-inch thick disk about 8 inches in diameter.

Using a 3-inch round cutter dipped in some of the remaining all-purpose flour, cut out rounds and place on an ungreased baking sheet. (Be sure to press straight downward when cutting the dough – a twisting motion will prevent the dough from rising.) Re-form the scraps of dough in order to make 8 biscuits.

Using a pastry brush, brush the tops with the melted butter and bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool briefly before serving.

Yield: 8 (3-inch) biscuits