Mo's Manic Monday - Gravy
Posted: Monday, November 12, 2007 by Travis Cody in
Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Gravy.
I'm a northern California boy, transplanted to Washington state. As such, I don't actually have a preference for a particular kind food.
I love Mexican food, but not really authentic spicy Mexican food. I enjoy Chinese food, but not really authentic spicy or veggie or fishy Chinese food. I love Italian food, but I'm more of a pasta freak than anything.
I like a good hamburger. Or a great steak.
So I'm not really a foodie. But I do like to eat. And one thing I like to eat is chicken fried steak. That's what they call it in Texas, which is where I first had it, although others in the south call it country fried steak.
Whatever you call it, it's all about the gravy. I am a fan of authentic country gravy on my chicken/country fried steak. Of course, not being from the south you might say that I wouldn't know authentic gravy if it was on my biscuits.
Well, I do know it doesn't come out of a jar or a can. It has oil or grease, liquid with some kind of flavor, and something to thicken the liquid.
I'm not a cook, but I know how to make chicken/country fried steak and mashed potatoes. I haven't done it in a long time. And I'll admit I usually cheat on the gravy. But with the internet, I realize I don't have to cheat. I've been reading gravy recipes and it's not that complicated. It seems to be in the timing to keep it from being lumpy or from burning.
So maybe Pam and I will try it some time.
Here's a recipe I found on for Mom's Country Gravy.
I had never heard of "Country fried steak" or "Chicken fried steak" until I started working at a truckstop about 14 miles from where I live, back in 1980. I'd also never had biscuits and sausage gravy until I started that job either! (Boy, was I ever a deprived person!) Anyway, I especially love biscuits and sausage gravy as does my son-in-law and every now and again, I make a batch of the gravy and that's what we have for supper along with some hash brown potato patties! All you need is a recipe for white sauce -pretty much the one you posted - and then brown some loose sausage with some onion and mix that in with the gravy - delicious!
Something else I never had till I worked at the truckstop - "fried cabbage and noodles" or haluski, as it is called in Slovak! It's a really good dish too and if you think you'd like to try it, if I make it, it's an "easy fix" cause I am generally a very lazy cook!