They say that smell can evoke strong memories and feelings and I know it's true. There is nothing more comforting to me than waking up to the smell of coffee and bacon frying. It takes me back to my childhood... waking up warm and snugly in bed to the sound of voices in the kitchen and the smell of breakfast already cooking. Now, of course, I'm the one in the kitchen doing the cooking so it's not quite as pleasant, but when I spend the night with relatives and wake up to the smell of breakfast, I get a warm, happy and familiar feeling that brings me back.
One of my very favorite things to have for breakfast was Chocolate Gravy. It is every child or chocolate lover's dream and I always feel a twinge of sadness for those who've never tasted it or even heard of it. It was served regularly around our house and always at my Grandma's house. She would even let me eat it first, before my eggs and regular sausage gravy and I loved it. I would crumble up my biscuits (much easier to eat that way and it soaks up more of the gravy) and then pour the smooth chocolaty mixture over the top until the pieces were completely covered. My mom and grandma always made homemade biscuits and that is how it tastes the best, but today I cheat and use biscuits from the can. It is still delicious! I don't make it often, but my kids love it too. Mine still isn't as good as my mom's or my grandma's... I have a tendency to get it too thick one time and too runny another. I think it's because they never gave me a real recipe with measurements, just something like... "Use a little more sugar than cocoa, and then add the flour. Stir in the milk until it looks about right and then cook until it thickens. Oh, don't forget to add the vanilla flavoring." Oh well, I think I've finally got it mastered and while it might not always be the right consistency, it always tastes delicious. My kids love it and since tomorrow is Saturday and my son is heading off to college in a couple of weeks, I think I'll make some for our breakfast. I went online and found an actual recipe that looks about right. :) So for those of you who love chocolate , want to make a special treat for your kids, or just want to try something new, here's the recipe below. I hope you enjoy it.
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions
- Whisk the cocoa, flour, and sugar together in a bowl until there are no lumps. Pour the milk into the mixture and whisk until well incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until its consistency is similar to gravy, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir the butter and vanilla into the mixture until the butter is melted. Serve immediately over warm biscuits. Enjoy!
