Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

As a Southern girl growing up, my dad would often fix biscuits and milk gravy on the weekends. I was foolish enough to never master the recipe. I learned a few tricks recently to make the best gravy and want to share!

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 1/4 lb breakfast sausage, formed into 5-6 patties
• 1 c milk, plus extra as needed
• 1 T flour
• Salt and pepper

In a large skillet, cook sausage. Meanwhile, measure milk and flour into a mason jar or other container. Screw on lid tightly. When sausage is cooked through, place on a plate lined with paper towels. Shake mason jar until there are no lumps. In same skillet, pour milk mixture into remaining grease and whisk quickly to form gravy over low heat. It will thicken quickly.Season to taste. Crumble 1-2 patties into gravy. Serve hot over fresh biscuits with patties on the side. As the gravy sits, it will thicken and you might need to thin it out with a few tablespoons of milk. 

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I've been meaning to try out cauliflower pizza crust and finally did. Overall, it was okay, but definitely not the same as a homemade pizza. The crust was pretty flavorless, but only served as a vessel for delicious toppings. It was a bit of work for a mediocre meal, but I'm sure there are ways you could make this easier to throw together, such as microwaving the cauliflower and then throwing everything into the food processor to make the dough. 

Ingredients

Makes 2 personal pizzas

• 1 large cauliflower
• 1/4 c low-fat cream cheese
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Grate the cauliflower, then steam until tender, about 10 minutes. In a dishtowel, squeeze out as much liquid from the cauliflower as possible. Allow to cool before adding other ingredients, then mix with your hands. On a parchment lined cookie sheet, form two personal sized pizzas, 1/3 inch thick. Bake for 20-30 minutes until browned. Top with desired toppings, then bake another 5-10 minutes. 

Cherry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Mom made this during my visit home for the holidays. It made a delicious breakfast! You can easily substitute your favorite variety of preserves. Raspberry or blackberry would be just wonderful! 

Ingredients:

1 package of cream cheese

1/4 c butter

2 c biscuit mix

1/4 c milk, plus 1-2 T for glaze

1 c powdered sugar

1/2 t vanilla 

1/2 c cherry preserves 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl, cut cream cream cheese and butter into biscuit mix until crumbly. Stir in milk. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead 8-10 times. Move to wax paper. Press into a 12x8 inch rectangle. Invert onto greased baking sheet and remove paper. Make 2 1/4 inch long cuts at 1 inch intervals down length of rectangle. Spread preserves down center of rectangle. Fold strips over the filling on an angle. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for glaze. Cool the coffee cake 5 minutes, then drizzle with glaze. Best served warm.