Monday, October 5, 2009

Biscuits and Gravy


I am a Southern girl at heart even though I have lived my entire life in the Pacific Northwest. I love the traditions, the food and being a Southern Belle. One thing that I am a bit afraid of is Biscuits and Gravy, it seems soo heavy, I have eaten it about twice in my life.

I found a recipe for some amazing biscuits at Grace's blog from her Mama. I knew I had to make them. This is my second time making biscuits and they turned out great, I impressed myself. There really is a process to making them, and I am finally getting it!

I found some Roasted Bell Pepper and Carmelized Onion Sausage for the gravy and we were off! I must say this was one of my top 10 breakfast's! My husband made the gravy and wrote the directions, I apologize in advance, he is wordy! I managed the Biscuits.

Grace's Mammy's Beautiful Biscuits
2 cups self rising flour (add a dash of salt)
2-3 heaping tablespoons shortening
Milk

I froze my shortening, used my cheese shredder and grated it right into the flour. Lightly mix with your fingers. Make a well and fill with milk.

Stir briefly and turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until the dough comes together

Pat out to a thickness of about 1/2 inch, cut the biscuits and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, broiling at the end as needed to make sure they are nicely browned.

Gravy (it's so easy!):
Cook your sausage until done, remove from pan and set aside
Save your pan drippings from the sausage
Heat the pan back up to a medium heat
Add about two TBL of real butter
Add about 3 heaping TBL of AP flour

Stir the flour until the oils are fully incorporated. Keep stirring around the bubbly flour until it starts to take on just a little color (very light brown). You are doing a few things in the process

1) this serves to de-glaze the pan and incorporate all the yumminess that the sausage gave up

2) you are cooking the flour and giving it a slight nutty flavor and 3) you are making a roux to thicken the gravy.

Meanwhile, add*:
~1tsp fresh cracked black pepper
~ 1tsp Johnny's Seasoning Salt
~ 1tbsp granulated onion
~ tsp garlic salt

*actual amounts are more/less depending on how much flour you used for the roux and how much gravy you actually end up with -- which overall depends how thick/thin you like your gravy

Reduce pan heat to low, stir in milk starting with 1/2c. We used a combination of whole milk and 1% milk. It really doesn't make much difference on taste.
Stir in the milk until the clumps are gone, then add more milk until it reaches the consistency you desire. Be patient! Clumps and lumps will work out, just be patient, really. If you add too much milk, simmer and let it reduce instead of trying to add more flour because uncooked flour will taste like, you guessed it, FLOUR.

Now taste for seasoning, adjust and then add the sausage back to the pan and bring it up to a nice simmer. This is a good time to prepare your biscuits, set the table, cook a gooey over-medium egg to compliment.

Spoon the gravy over the biscuits, enjoy.

20 comments:

Lea Ann said...

Looks wonderful! I still don't think I'd try those biscuits. But man! That Gravy!

Unknown said...

Grace really does know how to make a mean biscuit. When paired with your hubby's delicious gravy, you've got a perfect breakfast! Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

gaga said...

Yum, biscuits and gravy are one of my favorite comfort foods, but I always feel guilty for eating, so I don't have it too often. This version looks like it's worth the calories!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

This looks terrific...

I LOVE b&G... Thanks for posting

Lyndas recipe box said...

Delicious looking biscuits and gravy! All southern girls need this every so often. So sweet of your hubby to help.

Paula said...

Oh Lord, I think I might have swooned when I saw this! I absolutely, positively, unequivocally love, love, love biscuits and sausage gravy. Can you tell that I love this? :-) I've made this many a time, and the flavor and texture turns out great; however, my gravy is never, ever that lovely light color. NEVER. It's always darker. I will have to give your hubby's method a try! Wish me luck!

Donna-FFW said...

Ive never had this, but have always wanted to try. I love the sound of the roasted peppers and caramelized onions!! You guys really do breakfast the right way!

Bethie said...

Being a Southern girl myself, you can not go wrong with a plate of biscuits and gravy! I would love yours right now. I'm starving.

grace said...

eat more biscuits and gravy! i'm SO thrilled that you made use of my mamster's recipe and i'm even more thrilled that they turned out so well! tou have talents you never knew. gorgeous plate of food, cheryl!

Debbie said...

My husband was born and raised in the south and would love these!!!

Pam said...

I've been wanting to try Grace's biscuits. This breakfast looks amazing - the gravy sounds great John!

Maria said...

My hubs will love this one!

teresa said...

this looks wonderful! my husband love biscuits and gravy, so this would earn a lot of points with him!

Heather said...

i drooled over these on FB and i'm still drooling now! yum!!!!

Mini Baker said...

oh my god. if only i could eat this every day and not be as big as a blimp! i loveeee biscuits and gravy!
-Mini Baker

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

These look wonderful. I love the tip of freezing. This dish would be perfect for the cool rainy days we've been having.

Dewi said...

An old time favorite. It looks delicious Cheryl!

MaryBeth said...

As you know i simply love biscuits and gravy, I must have tried them from every place I have ever eaten. I bet these turned out simply delish!!

Albany Jane said...

Grace's Mamster's Biscuits are the BOMB! I wasn't much of a biscuit making gal before, but I never want to make another kind of biscuit again. These are perfect!

Sasha said...

Yum! Biscuits and gravy are amazing. Good job.

I am the furthest thing from a 'southern girl' but I love me some southern food. Perhaps I lived there in a past life : X

Great blog!

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