Biscuits and Gravy

My Gpa loves biscuits and gravy! In fact, he now has serious health problems partly because of it. The doctor has even had to limit his biscuits and gravy consumption. But, after making this delectable dish for over 50+ my Grandma has become one mean biscuit and gravy makin' machine.

I've rarely eaten a bad biscuit. So, simplicity is best. Buy the Grands biscuits if you like or feel free to make them from a Bisquick box, either way I think they're great. The real magic is in the gravy :)

Biscuits and Gravy:

serving: up to you

 

ingredients:

milk

flour

bacon

pepper

salt

directions:

Start by cooking bacon in a skillet. Once bacon has been cooked crispy set aside on a plate lined with napkins. Allow to cool and then roughly chop.

 

 

Leave grease in the pan and set to medium heat, add about a 1/4 cup of milk and whisk continuously. While whisking attempt to scrap all those bacon morsels off the bottom of the pan.

 

Once milk has become and brownish color and looks like it's thickening take a spoonful of flour and sprinkle over the milk mixture, continuing to whisk (if you don't have a whisk my grandmother always used a fork). Continue adding flour one spoonful at a time until you've contributed 3-4 spoonfuls. Stir and allow to thicken.

 

 

Sprinkle in some pepper and salt (personally I don't add salt because I think the bacon is salty enough). Once it begins to thicken like gravy add some more milk, 1/4-1/2 cup is fine. Milk may seem to boil when added to mixture. This is normal. Keep stirring.

 

 

You want to continue alternating milk and flour until you have the desired amount of gravy. Make sure you give each step time to brown. By this I mean allow milk to brown on the bottom of the pan for a few seconds and then whisk or turn heat up higher so that it bubbles and cooks quickly. The browning is what allows for the great flavor.

 

 

 

Now, turn off heat and add bacon to mixture. Stir and serve with biscuits, but don't forget the butter, jam and honey.

 

 

My challenge is for you to try biscuits and gravy with jam. My favorite is blackberry. It's so good. Just like Gpa has it!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's such a disappointment when you labor in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies and they come out like hard, brown, chocolate chunk Frisbees. Here's a fool proof recipe for chocolate chip cookies that won't leave you down, depressed, and defeated, face first in leftover cookie batter.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

serves: 7 dozen 2 inch cookies

 

ingredients:

2 3/4 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of salt

1 cup butter, softened (not melted)

3/4 cups of granulated sugar

3/4 cups of packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 cups of chocolate chips (this usually means 1 bag)

optional:

1 cup of chopped walnuts (I split the dough in half and added 1/4 cups to one half for variety)

directions:

 

Preheat oven to 375 F

In a small bowl add flour, baking soda, salt. Now, set aside.

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.

 

 

Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture until combined. Stir in chips...

 

 

 and walnuts (if desired)

 

 

Roll into small balls and lay on a cookies sheet, spaced apart. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Mine took exactly 9 minutes.

 

 

Cool then enjoy!

 

 

*If you would like to save some cookies for later pull out some wax paper and a one gallon bag. Roll the cookie dough into logs on the wax paper (short enough to fit into the one gallon bag). On the outside of the bag write the contents, cook temp and time needed to cook. Throw the bag in the freezer for later. When you're ready for another snack cut the logs like you would store bought cookies an enjoy! (This was a great idea passed down from a friend of a friend)

 

This recipe was adapted from the one on the Ghiradelli's Chocolate Chip bag

Loving well...

I’m trying to learn how to love people well. And how does that look tangibly played out in my life. How to love my husband well, my friend well, my daughter well, my family well and complete strangers. I’ve tried to establish practices on how to do this.

I write these as personal reminders more than anything else. I want to be better. to put those around me at ease. This list serves as a conscious reminder that I know better and serves as accountability since it's been put to ink and sent out into public terrain.

Husband(or wife):

LOVE HIM BEYOND HIS MISTAKES: Someone said to me early on in my marriage that a spouse can cause the greatest joy and worst pain. I'm finding this to be true. Pain is inevitable when you love someone as madly as you do a spouse. If a spouse wounds you (which will happen with time) deal with it, forgive them, move on and don't bring it up again. It's searing pain to the heart when you hurt your spouse and you've dealt with the problem and then they bring up the subject as ammunition against you. Don't do it!

SEX: is important. I remember having a serious conversation as a young teen with my dad about marriage. I told my dad that sex was a benefit to marriage. He stopped me dead in my tracks by saying it was very important and one the foundations in marriage. So true! Be available for sex. Girls you may not be in the mood, you're tired, it's late and you have to get early. Men take the word "no" more personally than we might expect. So, indulge him. Don't be a martyr. Have fun and enjoy it!

COOK: The way to a man's heart is through is stomach. This is a funny phrase, but in ways it holds so much truth. My husband appreciated it so much when I cook him dinner and I even enjoy doing it.

GO TO BED AND WAKE UP TOGETHER: Since the morning after we were married I have woken up and helped my husband get ready for work. At times this has meant getting up at 6:15am and other times 4:15AM! Sometimes it's with reluctance after having just been up two hours earlier feeding the baby, but it allows us to be on the same page day in and day out.

MAKE HIS LUNCH: This came as a surprise to me. A few weeks ago my husband said to me "Thank you for still making my lunch". I was taken back a little. Then he elaborated, "I just figured you would one day stop and have me do it and I just really appreciate that you still make it." I know he's capable of doing it himself, but if it's means so much to him it makes me excited to bless him in that way. Plus you can always give him a little shock by sneaking something a sexy little something inside with a note that makes his heart race with expectation to come home :)
 

Baby(kids):

DO THE MONOTONOUS: Mothers are needed even in the medial tasks, but that’s what counts. As the book "10 Habits of Healthy Mothers" says even wiping peas off the floor is important. Try to enjoy the things you have to do for your kids.

LET THEM BE THEM: You had your glory days. Allow them to develop into who they are. Don’t push them towards your regrets.

LOVE THEM OUT LOUD: We women should know this better than anyone else. We know our husbands love us. They do things to show us they love us, but that's not enough. We need to here those three precious words "I love you" and so do your kids!

FRIENDS:

LOVE THEM ENOUGH TO TELL THE TRUTH: I know some friendships don’t work this way. Then you have to ask yourself, is this really a true friendship or some self serving relationship where the other person can stay within the confines of what they feel is comfortable without any real input from the people who care. I want friendships that change me. Friendships that mold me into a better person. I want friendships that challenge me. In the same sense when your girlfriend says, “does this make my butt look big?” use some tact.

REMEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS: Birthdays are a must. A lot of people say birthdays aren’t really a big thing for them. I am one of them. The truth is I do want people to acknowledge that they know it’s my birthday. I'm speaking to the choir on this one. I've tried to be much better with this on Facebook. Baby steps people. Baby steps! Also, remember to ask about the big test or a job interview that your friend mentioned.

CONNECT REGULARLY: We can’t all be blessed and live in the same town as our friends. So, make a point to say hi. There are so many forms of social media and for all types of schedules. It takes seconds to email, Facebook or text someone. When they’re on your mind buzz them an email and let them know. “Hey Chelse, just thinking about you. Hope you are doing well. I love you, em”

PUT THE PHONE AWAY: It's rude. Enough said!

STRANGERS:

SMILE: says a thousand word. It can make or break a day. Have you ever walked by someone and they smile all teeth holding nothing back. It’s not very often I get a smile like this from a total stranger. It’s usually the pursed lips, half grin partial head nod. Like, “hey” I’m gonna acknowledge you, but I’m going to allow just enough of a social buffer in the case you don’t reciprocate. Rejection hurts. And it’s hard not to feel rejected when you smile at a stranger and they don’t reciprocate. Accept it. Be joyful. Smile regardless.