Gravy Me

"mmm biscuits and gravy," I mused out loud. I had wonderful memories of sitting around campfires with my family, thick buttery biscuits smothered in creamy country gravy on my paper plate. We never got very fancy with them, it was all mostly pop-out-of-a-tube biscuits and some simple gravy from a packet, but it is truly one of my favorite meals.

"I've never had 'em," Beau said. I stared at him in disbelief and bought some biscuits the very next day. How on earth could anyone have lived for 25 years and never have had biscuits and gravy??

So this morning while I was lying in bed waiting for Beau to get the baby without realizing he was gone taking the dog for a walk, I decided this chilly morning was the perfect day to enlighten Beau with the beautiful thing that is, yes I will say it again, Biscuits and la Gravy!

I use the basic pop-out biscuits with a little black pepper sprinkled on top and melted butter painted over the top after they get out of the oven. Nothing fancy! And then, you can buy the Jimmy Deen sausage in the little tube and either make it into patties or brown it in a pan in crumbles that will later get mixed into the gravy. Mixing in some seasonings makes it that much more special. It sort of depends on what you like, but some garlic salt, fennel, or thyme are all yummy. And then the best part... gravy.

Some people seem to be letting their lives pass them by without ever knowing how to make homemade gravy. Shame on you! It is so easy and so so delicious! You will only need a few things:

a couple Tbsp of butter
a small handful of flour
about 2 or 3 cups of milk (this is country gravy, not brown)
salt and pepper
the drippings from the sausage you were cooking, or any other yummy drippings
a whisk

Heat the milk in a pot or the microwave. In a pan (it does not have to be a pot. I use a saute pan with sides) melt the butter. Once melted, sprinkle the flour in the pan and whisk it around until incorporated. Without letting it brown, slowly pour in the milk while whisking. Let it simmer at a medium heat while whisking until it begins to thicken. This can take about 5 minutes. If it never thickens, sprinkle in a little more flour and whisk. Once it is thick and has cooked for a while (you want to cook out the flour flavor) season with salt and pepper, then pour in the drippings (and sausage if that is how you roll) and stir. Ta da! That's it! Be sure to taste it for the correct seasoning. It may take more salt than you realize.

Then you can pour the gravy over your sausage and biscuits and savor. Mmmm... Best when enjoyed by a campfire, but when this is not possible, it is just as good when sitting across the table from your man.