Biscuits & Gravy

Hands down, I became addicted to Biscuits and gravy in Oskaloosa, Iowa.  Smokey Row was a coffee house that served the most amazing B&G along with a hot and steamy Breve!!!  OH MY!  Ultimate experience right there! :)  While I HAVE NOT mastered their specific "ungiven" recipe, I have found one I like very well.

Biscuits:

2 c. flour

1 T baking powder

1 t salt

1 T white sugar

1/3 c shortening
1 c milk
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in the shortening until the mixture until it looks like piecey.  The flour mix and shortening will be dry and separated. Gradually stir in milk until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead 15 to 20 times. Pat or roll dough out to 1 inch thick. Cut biscuits with a large cutter or juice glass dipped in flour. Repeat until all dough is used. Brush off the excess flour, and place biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet (or I ALWAYS use parchment paper on my cookie sheet for ANYTHING I'm baking on it!).  Bake in preheated oven to 425 for 13 to 15 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.

Sausage Gravy:

1 lb breakfast sausage
1/2 c flour

1 t salt

pepper, to taste

2 T Worcestershire Sauce
2-3 c milk

Brown sausage and drain.  To the same pan, add flour, salt and Worcestershire Sauce and coat all the meat.  It will be really pasty and thick.  Still over medium heat add the first 2 cups of milk and continuously stir.  It will start to thicken the longer it's on the burner.  If it's too thick, add more milk about 1/2 c at a time.  It needs to be between thick and thin! :) 

Oatmeal Bread

1 c quick oats

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c brown sugar

1 T salt

2 T butter

Mix all above ingredients and pour 2 c boiling water over the top and mix.  Let cool. 

2 T yeast

1/2 c warm water

Dissolve.  Then add to the oatmeal mixture above.  Add 5 c all-purpose flour and stir until well combined and it forms a "ball" like in the first photo.  Knead.  Let rise for about an hour.  Make into 4 mini loaves and put into non-stick metal pans.  (Note: I have tried the Pampered Chef bread stone pan and it DOES NOT WORK for yeast breads.)  Let raise in pans until they are ALMOST to the top of the pan.  Usually about 30 minutes.  Bake at 350  for 20 minutes.  Serving it warm is by far my favorite, but we use this for sandwich bread, toast, etc.  This CANNOT be done in a bread machine.

Hidden TREASURES

Oh dear!  It's late, and I'm SOOOO tired tonight.  Will probably get a little lecture from my sweetie as I'm supposed to be "in bed." :)  I just had to share this with you guys! :)

There are very few items that I buy like this, but I HAVE to let you in on my secret!  Especially now that crock pot cooking is much more on the horizon with lots of cooler weather coming (out here in AZ at some point).  These are, hands down, I think one of my favorite inventions for the kitchen!  Crazy cool!  I wish I'd have invented them myself! :)  They might seem extremely "silly" but seriously, friends, I LOVE THEM!  And they are WELL WORTH the investment.  Watch for coupons! :)  You know me!  Don't buy much if it doesn't have a coupon to make it free or almost free! :)

The item I am referring to are called Slow Cooker Liners by Reynolds.  OH...................MY!  I used to DRAG MY FEET when using my crock pot cause I HATED cleaning it out!  NOT ANY MORE!  Try these out if you haven't already fallen in love with them like me! :)  I will repost the Turkey Chili picture where you see I used one! :)  Yep!  When that chili was scarfed down by my family, I literally took that bag with crusted tomato sauce to the side and threw it in the trash!  Wiped it with a soapy rag and it was DONE!

This is what my crock pot looked like after I pulled the bag out.

Not the best picture, sorry!  You get the idea though. :)

Alright!  Good night now! :)

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast Burritos have become a Sunday morning tradition!  WE LOVE IT!  Our church isn't until 5PM, so we lounge, drink coffee, read the newspaper and make breakfast burritos!  Don't let the name fool you though, they can be eaten ANY MEAL of the day! :)

1 pack large tortillas
1 pkg bacon
8 eggs
1 c. Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 can refried beans
1 pkg frozen hashbrowns, thawed
1 stick butter

Start hashbrowns by melting a stick of butter in a large skillet.  Sprinkle bag of hashbrowns evenly over melted butter and put the lid on.  Cook over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes then flip over and let cook another 5 minutes.  Cut bacon into little slices and fry up in a saucepan.  Drain on a paper towel.  Dispose of most of the bacon grease, reserving just enough to coat the bottom of your bacon pan and throw the eggs in and scramble.  Lastly, in a small saucepan, heat your refried beans through.  Take a tortilla and put some cheese on and warm it in the microwave about 45 seconds until the cheese is melted.  Layer with the remaining ingredients.  Roll up and eat!