Biscuits & Gravy

We’re on our way to Portland- or so we thought. We had a connecting flight in Las Vegas, but apparently its too windy in Vegas to land, so we have to turn around and go back home. This is my second vacation within a month, so I guess I deserved a little bump in my ridiculously lavish lifestyle. I’m trying to have a good attitude about it (especially since my flying partner doesn’t), and am really enjoying the frustration in the air. My favorite part was when the guy next to me woke up to us landing back in Ontario with no idea what was going on. At least I got free Bloody Marys! That makes it still feel like vacation.

Life has evened out a little bit lately. I’ve spent the last few months lacking any sense of routine whatsoever. Everything changed, and everything got busier, to the point where I didn’t even know simple answers like what city I’d be in from one day to the next, or what job I’d be doing. Now I have a small routine, and vacations are included. And I feel great. Sunday is the day that we make a big deal of celebrating. “Sunday Funday.” Every week, we try to do something different, and somewhat exciting. Last week’s excitement was errands. It was amazing to wake up whenever, cook breakfast, and then do all of the things that have been on my stack of to-do lists for months. We cooked biscuits and gravy. Vegan biscuits and gravy, inspired by this recipe by Chez Bettey. I’m from the south, in case y’all fergot, so I know what biscuits and gravy is ‘sposed ta taste like. And these ‘ens were gooood. A dutch oven will have to be on your packing list if you plan to make the whole meal from scratch, but you can make your biscuits ahead of time if you don’t want to carry one.

We’re on our way back to Vegas now…we hope. Wes wants me to mention that his spirits are higher (now that free spirits are on the way). After Vegas, we’ll see if we can make it all the way to Portland, a land I’ve never been to but was told I’d never want to return from.

Biscuits and Gravy

Yield

6 servings

Prep Time / Cook Time

10 minutes / 20 minutes

Activity Guide

Car Camping

Ingredients

• For the Biscuits
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 3/4 cup milk or soymilk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• For the Sausage Gravy
• 4 cups milk or soymilk
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 6 sausage patties
• 1/2 cup flour
• Pinch of crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Lots of freshly ground pepper

Tools

• Dutch oven
• Large bowl
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Medium bowl
• Mixing spoon

Method

At Home

1. Measure out dry ingredients for the biscuits into a baggie.

At Camp

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook until heated through, breaking it up with a spoon. Remove from skillet and set aside, reserving oil.
2. In the same skillet, add the remaining oil and whisk in the flour. Cook over low heat, whisking frequently, until the flour starts to brown. Pour about half the milk into the skillet and whisk until smooth. Add the remaining milk and stir until thickened. Finally, add the sausage to the gravy and season to taste with crushed red pepper, salt and pepper.
3. In the baggie of biscuit dry ingredients, add butter and massage in the bag until crumbly. Add buttermilk, cheese, salt and pepper, and massage until the whole thing is just combined.
4. Scoop spoonfuls of biscuit dough and drop into the gravy in the skillet. Cover and bake until the biscuits are cooked through.