Gravy is an art. Bad gravy is the worst, but good gravy is a delight to behold and eat. I happen to make a mean gravy. I consider it one of the highlights of my Thanksgiving meal.
I grew up watching my granny make gravy for biscuits every time we visited. That was sausage gravy. I’m not totally opposed to sausage gravy, but I do have a ban on tubular meat in my house, so I usually steer clear of it.
I will admit a friend made some sausage gravy on a knitting retreat a few years back and I sampled some. It may have been the best damn gravy I have ever tasted. Her gravy game was rock star status.
Now, back to the turkey gravy. I remember my first Thanksgiving away from home with my new husband. I wanted desperately to make a nice dinner, but the gravy was an intimidating prospect. However, I’m not going to back away from a cooking challenge. I can read and I have cookbooks. Surely, I could make gravy.
I went straight to my Family Circle cookbook and found a turkey gravy recipe. There were a lot of steps. The timing seemed crucial, but I put on my big girl panties and proceeded.
It was touch and go for a bit. I soon realized I needed more fat and flour than the recipe called for to get the consistency I wanted. I pivoted. Luckily, I have pretty good instincts in the kitchen. I’ve been cooking since I was like five.
I managed to get the gravy how I wanted it. I was pleased with my first gravy-making attempt. It was also met with good reviews from my husband.
As the years have passed, I have gotten better and better with my gravy-making. Dare I say, I have mad gravy skills. I no longer even need a recipe. I freestyle that shit!
I’ve encountered a handful of people in my life who are anti-gravy. These folks baffle me. I view gravy as the glue that holds Thanksgiving together. I put that shit on everything! When I load my plate, the turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing all get a generous dollop of gravy. It is a flavor explosion!
The fact is, to involve gravy in every aspect of your holiday meal, the gravy has to be good. Gravy from a jar is not going to cut it. Make the damn gravy!
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I’m already looking forward to the gravy. I love Thanksgiving dinner so damn much. I give most of the glory to Thanksgiving’s unsung hero. Yes, the fucking gravy is key.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
