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Biscuits & Peppered Sausage Gravy

My history with gravy is very brief. Our friendship is new, but rich.

I’ve never been a fan of gravy. In my mind, gravy on mashed potatoes or turkey stuffing is adulterating two of my most favorite foods in the whole wide world. I try not to judge those that create a puddle of brown slop over their Thanksgiving dinner, but…I do anyways.

This gravy isn’t the same. It shouldn’t even be called gravy because it’s more of a cream. With sausage…my favorite not-so-great-for-you meat. And then you add flaky, warm homemade biscuits and I now know what I’ve been missing for so many years. I don’t think I tried biscuits and gravy until well into my 20’s. This is saddening, but my waistlines thanks me all the while…

When Kristen was in town last weekend, these Biscuits and Peppered Sausage Gravy were breakfast on Saturday. The Baked Mini French Toasts were Sunday. I should ask her which she liked better, but I have a feeling she’d just say both 😉 Seeing as Mark has not yet seen the biscuits & gravy light, she was the perfect, appreciative guest of both good food and good cooking (if I do say to myself!).

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Biscuits & Peppered Sausage Gravy adapted from Teenage Taste, originally adapted from Cracker Barrel (biscuits) and Food Network (gravy)

Biscuits:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Gravy:
10 oz bulk pork sausage
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups milk (I used 1%.)
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp rosemary, chopped

Directions:

For Biscuits: Preheat oven to 450 F. Grease a large baking sheet and set aside.

Place all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and wisk to combine. Stir in the milk and softened butter until a crumbly dough forms. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic.

Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thickness and, using a circle cookie cutter, cut into 12 rounds.

Place rounds on the prepared baking sheet, brush with melted butter, and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

For Gravy: Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, break it up with a wooden spoon, and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet. Whisk the flour into the fat and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.

While whisking, pour the milk and butter into the skillet and bring the gravy to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached.

Stir in the sausage and season with pepper, salt, and rosemary. Split the biscuits in half and divide them among plates. Top each biscuit with some gravy and serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings (2 biscuits with ~ 1/3 cup gravy)

Nutrition Information (per serving): 498 calories; 27.2 g. fat; 60 mg. cholesterol; 651 mg. sodium; 46 g. carbohydrate; 0 g. fiber; 16.5 g. protein

Result: These…were….soooo…good! While not guilt-free, this biscuit and gravy recipe shaves a substantial amount of calories and fat from a full-fat version that you would get in a restaurant. Next time (and there WILL be a next time!) I am going to try turkey breakfast sausage to shave some additional calories and fat from the recipe. If you love biscuits and gravy, this is a must-make recipe! Enjoy!

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Yesterday was just a smooth day. I felt organized, even! A day is good when you not only have your dinner in the crock pot by 6:30am, but you’re even early to work. However, my coffee wore off by 10am and the rest of the day was tiresome.

By the time I got home, I had almost talked myself out of a workout. Thanks for the words of encouragement on Facebook for getting that workout in yesterday. I ended up watching Parenthood on the DVR and plowed through 3 miles on the elliptical. Nothing spectacular, but it got done. 😀

Since I had dinner ready to go, there was no prep work there (love it!) and we were wrapping up dinner by 6pm. Done with a workout and dinner by 6pm? Wow. That never happens. And I do mean never.

So, what did I do? I baked. A loaf of Spiced Peach Carrot Bread and a Fig Tarte. We have staff meetings tomorrow, and on occasion, I love to spoil my coworkers 😉

And lucky me, today is my Friday. Yep, only a 3-day week for this girl. Before you get too jealous, tomorrow will involve a meeting with my business partners, cleaning for this weekend’s guests, and LOTS of lesson planning. And I may have to peruse a few stores to be sure there’s no must-have fall clothes or anything cute to wear to next weekend’s bachelorette party…but we’ll see 😉

Question: Do you like to shop for clothes?

I’m really not a fan, but when nothing in your closet looks appealing any longer…it’s time!

Be well,

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21 Comments

  1. Gina (The Candid RD)
    September 15, 2011 / 6:44 am

    Yep, that’s how I know it’s time to shop, when it takes me more than 5 minutes to pick out an outfit! I am not a huge fan of shopping, but it’s growing on me as I get older.

    The biscuits and gravy sounds wonderful. I’ll be honest, I love gravy on my potatoes, turkey, and stuffing, but you better believe I do NOT use a lot. And not because it’s not good for me, it’s mainly because, like you said, it wakes away from the great flavor of the other foods. Why do that?! Nick hates gravy, which is strange because he is the condiment KING.

  2. Joanne
    September 15, 2011 / 6:47 am

    Ugh I HATE shopping! Partially because I end up almost in tears at the end of it when nothing fits the way I want it to or the way I remember things fitting when I was thirty pounds lighter. it’s always super frustrating and I’d rather not be in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

    This gravy is SO putting me in a good mood. I never use it on mashed potatoes or stuffing either…but on biscuits? Now that’s another story.

  3. Erika @ The Teenage Taste
    September 15, 2011 / 6:52 am

    I’m so glad you tried the biscuits and gravy, Nicole! I am in love with them! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Amy B @ Second City Randomness
    September 15, 2011 / 7:11 am

    I like biscuits and gravy, but don’t seek it out very often. Recently, it was on a breakfast buffet I went to and we were reunited. ๐Ÿ™‚

    I hate shopping for clothes. It stresses me out. Too bad there’s not someone around just to tell me what to wear…

  5. Regan @ The Professional Palate
    September 15, 2011 / 7:16 am

    My mom used to make very trad’l (i.e. heavy) sausage gravy when I was growing up. It was truly one of my favorites. I never make it now… thinking I should give your healthier version a try!

  6. Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
    September 15, 2011 / 7:34 am

    Biscuits and gravy…my husband’s all-time favorite breakfast. Thanks for the reminder that I need to make these for him. Awesome! ๐Ÿ™‚ Mmm!

  7. Andrea@WellnessNotes
    September 15, 2011 / 8:38 am

    I’ve never made biscuits and gravy at home. But I love it! And I love gravy… ๐Ÿ™‚

    Have fun shopping!

  8. Anna @ On Anna's Plate
    September 15, 2011 / 9:02 am

    Mmmm…I’m not a fan of brown gravies, but I love the creamy white ones! This looks awesome!

    Love to shop. Anywhere, anytime ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Samantha @ Bikini Birthday
    September 15, 2011 / 9:16 am

    I only really like gravy on my french fries. Anytime I get asked if I want gravy with my fries, the answer is always, always yes.

    I always bake when I have spare time at night. Optimum baking time for me is between 9 and 11 pm because, like you, I hardly get done my workout and dinner by 6. Usually it’s more like 8pm.

    I basically hate shopping for clothes. I only ever go when I need them which, of course, is also when I can’t find what I’m looking for. It was great when I worked in Toronto and my office had underground access to the Eaton’s centre. I would shop daily(!) and know exactly what I wanted and where to buy it from and when it was on sale. I can’t be bothered to shop that often anymore.

  10. renee@mykitchenadventures
    September 15, 2011 / 10:12 am

    Holy yum to the biscuits and gravy! yes, I think using turkey sausage would cut the fat and cals down considerably. Jimmy Dean makes those turkey crumbles that are awesome!

    I don’t really like clothes shopping. Most of the time, I don’t really like the styles they show. I find it a necessary evil. Although, if I can get a nice piece of clothing for a steal on a clearance rack…I feel great.

  11. Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
    September 15, 2011 / 10:59 am

    I have a love/hate relationship with shopping. When I’m not looking for anything in particular I come across something, but when I go for a specific outfit, I can never find what I’m looking for!

  12. Joelen
    September 15, 2011 / 11:45 am

    Aannnnd, I’m hungry for biscuits & gravy. Man, your pic looks to die for!

  13. sara
    September 15, 2011 / 12:05 pm

    This looks amazing! I really want to make biscuits and gravy at home…it’s definitely one of my favorite indulgent breakfast dishes.

  14. Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather
    September 15, 2011 / 12:09 pm

    I love shopping for clothes… I just dont like spending money which means I rarely but clothes. It’s a sad thing ๐Ÿ™

    Mmmmmm biscuits. They look fabulous!

  15. Holly
    September 15, 2011 / 1:13 pm

    Ohh man! That looks DIVINE!!!!!! Biscuits and gravy are one of my favorite things in the world (being from Kentucky, I think thats a must haha). I’m definately giving your “lightened up” version a try. Thanks so much for sharing!

  16. Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    September 15, 2011 / 1:35 pm

    I’m not a huge biscuit and gravy girl, but those sure do look delicious!

    I love shopping. My wallet wishes I didn’t like it so much…

  17. Leah @ Why Deprive?
    September 15, 2011 / 2:40 pm

    I hate clothes shopping. Id rather buy groceries. ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Eunice
    September 15, 2011 / 9:54 pm

    I looooove biscuits. So much that I can’t really be around them. Gravy may make my problem worse! ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Lindy
    January 1, 2012 / 12:18 pm

    I just made these, having never used a cast iron skillet or made biscuits and gravy before. They came out perfectly! Great recipe! The only thing was my biscuits ended up being drop biscuits instead of perfect circles because I didn’t flour my work surface, but I break them up when I eat them so no one could even tell ๐Ÿ™‚ I will definitely be using this recipe again. Thanks for sharing!

  20. Pingback: Breakfast (Savory) | Prevention RD
  21. Lindsey @ Our Share of the Harvest
    December 24, 2012 / 12:19 pm

    Hey Nicole, I made these today for breakfast and they were delicious! I used reduced fat sausage which was a big mistake–not enough fat to make the roux. I added some butter and it turned out just fine but it defeated my attempt at lightening up the gravy. Oh well, they were worth the indulgence! Thanks for sharing!

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