Chocolate Gravy

A few weeks ago, my college bestie &  I loaded up and headed to Gulf Shores.  It was quite the trek.   Nothing catastrophic happened this time...  just a few shenanigans & chocolate gravy.   One year, we got lost in Mobile and rambled across most of Mississippi from there trying to find our way home.   This time, we lounged on the beach, ate our way through every shrimp basket along the coast and shopped at the outlet mall.   Our husbands would have been miserable.  Until the chocolate gravy was served.


                                               

This guy happened to land right beside us as we were taking an afternoon stroll.

We purposely drove one night just so we could watch the odometer turn 200,000 miles.

J.G. taught me how to do this.   I really didn't know it was this easy.   My life was empty until this point.  

If you are from the South and hear the words "chocolate gravy" muttered.......  you know that something wonderful is about to be served.   It is both magical and healing.  It covers a multitude of sins.  Just like Jesus can!  Folks from the other parts of this world.......  just don't know what they are missing.  Bless their hearts. 

Chocolate Gravy

3 heaping Tablespoons flour

3 level Tablespoons cocoa

3/4 cup sugar

3 cups milk

1/2 cup water

3 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the dry together and gradually add the liquid.   Bring to a boil and stir until thickened to your preference.  Add the butter & vanilla.  Serve over hot bisquits!!  Enjoy and Thank you very much!

Cranberry Crunch...YUMMMMMM!!!!

As promised from last year I am posting this recipe from our Thanksgiving meal.  It was delicious.  Everyone.....except my dear husband loved it.   G.G.  loves the traditional cranberry sauce.  He prefers it straight from the can with the lines and all.......  YUCK.

Cranberry Crunch

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened

Mix everything together except the sauce.  Spread half of the oatmeal stuff in a pie plate.  Spread the Sauce.  Crumble the rest on top.

Bake at 350* for about 35 minutes.

This was taken before baking.

I found this recipe over at the Southern Plate.  She has some great pictures of the finished product too.  She has even topped it with vanilla ice cream.   If you have never been to the Southern Plate blog.....go check out Miss Christy.  While I don't know her personally......I consider her my friend.

http://www.southernplate.com/2011/11/cranberry-crunch-and-ghosts-of-thanksgiving-past.html

Yes, that is a disco ball.  Tramp loves to chase the sparkles across the yard.

This is about as fall as it gets here at our house.  Happy Fall Friends!

Calzones....

Remember that pizza/pasta sauce I made a few weeks ago?   Let me introduce you to my new best friend in the kitchen..........  Meet Mr. Calzone Maker!  

I found this guy at Williams-Sonoma a couple of weeks ago and I am smitten with him.   Lets just talk about how easy this is.   In a prior life of mine, I used to make pizza dough with a bread machine.  Yes, it is easy.  Yes, it is cheap.  Yes, it is amazing.  BUT, I am just tired of getting it out.  I am tired of setting it up. NO MORE!   I walked myself into Sam's Club Deli and found that for a mere 16.00  ...(I think).   I am able to purchase a case of pizza dough which contains 25 dough balls.  Nice!  All I do is get a ball out first thing in the morning.  I spray a large plastic bowl with canola or olive oil.  I cover it with plastic and continue with my day.  BAM!  DONE!  You just have to love that. 

BTW>>>>>one dough ball makes about 5 calzones.  Roll them out to about 8 inches.   I also like to shred my  cheese.  It just melts nicer and you can add some variety.  Tonight's mix included 

Jalapeno Havarti,  Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Colby Jack.

I have purchased in the past a large pampered chef jelly roll stone.  I place it in the oven and let it heat with the oven.  Which BTW.....is set at 500'.  Yeah, it does get the kitchen pretty darn hot....but these little babies only cook for about 13 minutes.

Follow the directions on the box....Fill with Cheese, Pepperoni, veggies,  whatever you desire.  A small tablespoon of Ricotta cheese really makes these guys AMAZING.    Brush them with an egg white and shake some italian seasoning on them before you put them into the pan.

The edge on the pan is nice because if the cheese happens to melt out of the calzone......it won't be dripping down into the oven.   Serve with a nice little cup of pasta sauce and a side salad.  Enjoy!

Today I get sauced............

Now seriously, I know what you might be thinking.  But, I am not that kind of gal. 

Tonight, we are eating homemade Calzones for dinner.  Now, with that kind of madness about to occur.  Wouldn't it be even better if we had some amazing pizza/pasta sauce on hand to drizzle into those little babies??   Yeah, it is a must.

The recipe starts like this...

4 tablespoons of olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, pressed

4 (28 ounce) cans of tomatoes, either crushed or diced

1 cup of red wine...(get a glass for yourself...I won't judge you here!)

1 Tablespoon dried italian seasoning

1 Teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Saute the garlic with the olive oil.  Stir in everything else.  Cook on low for about 2 hours.  It will thicken up.  Stir occasionally.  Find yourself some freezable containers.  This makes a ton.  Enjoy!