From gravy to mac-n-cheese.

Gravy is so easy to make and inexpensive sauce for a lot of dishes. It probably was made most famous from being the usual topping for chicken fried steak. In this case we will use toast as the base.

1. Take several slices of bacon or other meat that will make grease when you fry it.
2. Fry the meat, but keep the stove on. (substitution: take solidified fat, lard, or butter)
3. Remove the meat (if you did not use the fat or butter) and put on some paper towels.
4. Remove all the oil except for about a tablespoon and a half.
5. Add about a tablespoon and a half of flour. mix well with a heat proof whisk. till it is light brown.
6. Add a cup or so of milk.
7. Stir till you get a nice thick brown slurry.
8. Add a little black pepper and mix it in.
9. Pour  the mixture on the biscuits. (you can use toast also just as well.)
10. Crumple the fried bacon on top. (if you fried the bacon)

Eat and you are in high heaven.  One plus to this is that you are two steps away from having macaroni and cheese.  add your favorite cheese (and seasonings) to the gravy mix and then mix in with some boiled and drained noodles. That easy.

Note: For a lighter more traditional gravy, use chicken stock, beef stock, vegetable stock, or even just water instead of milk.

You do not need the box mac-n-cheese

1 - pound elbow noodles
1 to 2 - cups cheddar (or your favorite cheese)
3 - cups milk (stock, water, or etc).
4 - tablespoons butter
1/3 - cup flour or 4 tablespoons
Pepper
Salt

Bring a gallon of water to a boil
Add elbow noodles
Add the salt
Cook for eight or so minutes
Turn off heat and cover.
Let sit for a few minutes.
Drain the water from the noodles.

In a large saute pan.heat to medium.
Add the butter and let it melt to a liquid.
Add the flour slowly so there are no clumps.  a bit of water can help out here) (Keep mixing till the flour and butter have combined and started to bubble.
Start adding the liquid a little at a time till it is fully mixed.
Add in the cheese and stir till mixed.
Add pepper and mix well.

Add the cheese sauce back to the elbow nooles and mix well.
Eat or I like to throw it in the fridge for later.


Make your own macaroni: