[TULIP]

I live in Washington state but just spent nearly three weeks with family in Tennessee and ate more country ham with red eye gravy than a person has a right to. My dad picked up a home salt-cured country ham when I came home, and the flavor was spectacular. It was a two-year old ham, and it made the best red eye gravy, and that combined with my mother's biscuits...I was in heaven. I also stocked up on Warren County and Mammoth Cave twist tobacco. Anyone else enjoy Southern food?

[Doc]

Son you are preachin to the choir here. I LOVE red eye gravey and grits! or white Saw mill gravey oh heck they are all good!!

[TULIP]

Originally Posted by Doc

Son you are preachin to the choir here. I LOVE red eye gravey and grits! or white Saw mill gravey oh heck they are all good!!

Amen to that. The wife, kids and I visited my aunt in Louisville while we were there, and the smell of her white sawmill gravy woke me up in the morning.

It was tough coming back to Washington. The mimosa trees were in bloom, we caught the end of the 17 yr cicadas, and we did a lot of night fishing. I did get my fair share of chiggers, though, and I won't miss those.

If you even mention country ham or red eye gravy here, you get the thousand yard stare. I've decided to cure my own hams, and the Virginia Tech Extension has a pretty good web site on curing hams.

[JohnP]

I grew up in North Carolina, so I know all about the good stuff.
It is really hard to find a place that makes grits right, outside of the south, also...
When enjoying southern food, leave your diet at the door and enjoy.

John P.

[Brother Jeeter]

I have lived in Kentucky since the day I was born. I've spent a fair amount of time in Tennessee, too. I know whatcher talkin' about. Grits, gravy, ham, biscuits... I'm sure they'll be servin' Southern Cookin' in Heaven!

[Doc]

Hope there some on the other end as well!

[Photoguy67]

I guess I am just spoiled growing up in Nashville, Tennessee.

[jimmyman]

I haven't had red eye gravy and biscuits since I was a kid. Anyone got a good recipe they would like to share?

[nun2sharp]

Great idea jimmyman, cmon guys get those gravy recipes up here! If all goes well another thread may be in order!

[TULIP]

Originally Posted by jimmyman

I haven't had red eye gravy and biscuits since I was a kid. Anyone got a good recipe they would like to share?

The key ingredient to red eye gravy is country ham drippings. Without that, you can't get good gravy. My problem is I can't get country ham here, so I only get it when I'm back home. If you do have country ham, you're good to go.

My dad, for some reason, cooks the country ham, so he makes the gravy. After the ham is cooked (in cast iron), he drains off most of the fat, adds water, deglazes the skillet, and there go you. Red eye gravy. One of my mother's sisters uses coffee instead of water. I prefer the coffee method but love both.

[JohnP]

I grew up mostly with the thick white gravy. Easy to make.
The red-eye gravy I liked was made with coffee also, fwiw.
John P.

[Doc]

yep ham dripping and coffee is the best!!!

[hoglahoo]

Yoller makin' me hongreee!

[Nicky B]

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Yoller makin' me hongreee!

And how. Never had red eye gravy but it sounds delicious.

[rastewart]

Ham dripping and coffee--now that sounds like good gravy.

I grew up in southern Illinois, which culturally and geographically is an odd blend of Midwest and South. I'd say how southern or otherwise the cooking was varied from family to family, and the gravy I remember growing up was mostly white gravy. But grits, mmm; country ham; catfish, ahhhhhhhhh catfish ...

~Rich

[nun2sharp]

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Yoller makin' me hongreee!

Amen, brother,Amen! I wonder if theres any ham in the fridge/freezer. BTW You guys might should throw some ham recipes in here as well. Lay yer cards down and show whatcha got!(insert smiley lickin' lips)