Try It You'll Like It!

At this point in my life and culinary journey, I thought I had heard of or tasted just about every type of food or recipe born in the South...not so.

This week, my good friend, Janie Payne made Chocolate Gravy for breakfast...wow!

This stuff is going into the new cookbook and will be a staple at all family/holiday breakfasts moving forward. (My future grandkids will have glorious memories of breakfast with Grandaddy)?
As with most good, southern cooks, Janie does not measure or record exact amounts, but it starts off like this:


CHOCOLATE GRAVY
1 stick of butter, melted slowly in skillet
Add mixture of equal parts Flour and Cocoa (unsweetened)--use 1/2 Cup total per recipe.
1 to 1 1/2 Cups Sugar (Splenda),
Cook dry ingredients in the butter as you would a roux, stirring constantly, do not let sugar carmelize, but cook flour well.
1 T. Vanilla
Slowly add milk, (as a beginner, I would warm milk in micro for 20 seconds)
Stir briskly until you get a smooth, creamy texture. It will continue to thicken as it cooks and especially as it starts to cool.

Keep Covered until ready to serve and then spoon over hot biscuits, pancakes, waffles...

Note: This was a slow process and because the cocoa masks the color of the cooking flour, you may have to experiment with the cooking temps and times. It can lump and burn on you, so give it a few attempts and patient tries...well worth it!

ENJOY!

PS...the "new" cookbook should be available in the far future. I keep looking for the time to sit down and get all the ideas and recipes into one spot! I'll git er done one of these days...

Food Forever

Several months ago, I was asked this random question:

"If you had to eat the same thing everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be"?

I answered immediately: Grilled Cheese or Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich...

At the time, I thought to myself...really?...Would this answer change depending on my mood, who was asking the question? current environment?

Well, it has been over 10 months and for some reason, this question has come up in several conversations.. I am sticking with my original, gut feeling.

I could eat a grilled cheese or ham and cheese sandwich everyday.

Now, everytime I make one at home or order one while eating out, I am reminded about this question and my answer is validated, I love a good grilled cheese!

I must also say that not all grilled cheese sandwiches are created equal. One would think that this basic of all basic comfort foods would have little variation in taste, texture, style and structure. Not so. While there are hundreds of possible combinations and numerous attempts have been made to take a gourmet swing at this culinary staple, nothing beats the simple combo of bread and cheese, cooked in butter/margarine/PAM on a hot griddle or skillet.

Since this question was posed to me, I have been keeping track of some of my favorites...

The short list:

Waffle House--consistent and cheap
Atlanta Bread Company--Provolone on Sour Dough
Courtney's Restaurant-Birmingham, AL--just good
Hilton Hotel-Myrtle Beach, SC--Crispy Bread, lots of real Cheddar
OK Cafe-Atlanta, GA--just good
Demitri's BBQ-Birmingham, AL--WOW! Best Cheese--all time favorite
(Update New Contender as of 11-5-09: The CABIN Pancake House in Pigeon Forge, TN

WORST EVER-Piccadilly Grille-Bread toasted in toaster then 1 piece of American Cheese placed in the middle and served in styrofoam box. Another surprise disappointment was the Grilled Bacon and Cheese at the Cracker Barrel--really! Not so good...

When at home, I prefer honey wheat, a little mayo and 1 slice cheddar, 1 slice provolone grilled in a little butter on hot cast iron skillet...makes me smile...

Enjoy!