Jim Fair
Nancy Welch was the main attraction early Thursday morning. She was in the kitchen making her signature "Angel Biscuits".
Jim Fair
Flour on the cheek, shoulders and arms of Nancy's sweater. Everything was right in the kitchen at Fairview Baptist Church.
Jim Fair
Kathy Thorfinnsson came to the rescue early Thursday morning as a helper for Nancy.
Jim Fair
By the numbers: 2,400 biscuits (200 dozen) made. A dozen biscuits sold for $3. Greer Community Ministries made at least $600 dollars, excluding donations.
Here’s what we saw, heard and photographed early Thursday morning.
The signs pointing to the entrance of the Fairview Baptist Church gymnasium were ineffective. Most of the “veterans” of Big Thursday knew where Nancy Welch was and headed straight toward the kitchen where she was making and rolling out the dough for 1,200 biscuits – 100 dozen. She had already made 100 dozen before today, and they were frozen in a truck just yards away. That has been the norm for the past several years, and as the norm, they are always sold out.
There was also no accountability for the many biscuits tasted with melted butter as they came out of the oven. But that was part of the fun being a “Nancy Helper.”
“We’re selling them as fast as they come out of the oven,” Nancy said.
Nancy didn’t waste time sporting flour high on her left cheek. “Someone told me I had flour on my face and I brushed it with more flour on my hand,” Nancy said as she laughed.
Kathy Thorfinnsson asked Nancy Wednesday if she needed help but was told everything was taken care of. It wasn’t, and Kathy was pleased she would be a “Nancy Helper” for the first time after years of wanting to be where the action was. “I came in this morning and Nancy said she could use me and my daughter, Kelly. We were so excited,” Kathy said. Probably not as much as Nancy.
Kathy helped measure the flour. “You don’t want the dough too wet or too dry,” Nancy said. Kathy got some personal tips, too, during her assistance preparing eight batches of dough.
It was a reunion of sorts as Nancy welcomed friends she hadn’t seen for a while. “For you it’s three dollars a biscuit,” Nancy told a friend. “You can afford to pay more.” A dozen biscuits sold for $3 with tips and extra donations accepted.
Nancy was in great spirits and engaged in all types of conversation regarding family, friends, football and baking. In fact, she miscalculated the time to make the biscuits because of all the conversation. Her stamina was typical of any chef making this many biscuits from scratch. She was a little tired at the end, but visibly happy she was able to provide her biscuits to so many families. And a happy Greer Community Ministries was richer for it.
Nancy attends the Greer Touchdown Club’s Thursday meetings. Unfortunately it is 11:30 a.m. and Nancy figured she still had about three more hours of baking left. “I wish I could have gone today because Rich (Tuten, Clemson football standout, college and NFL strength and conditioning coach) would be the best speaker this year.”
Nancy was right, but we didn’t go back to tell her.