Homemade Biscuits & Gravy

Did you just salivate? LOL! It's ok; We're all friends here. ;)

This is one of my all time asked for recipes from my friends and family alike.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Pay attention when you're in the kitchen! You never know when that "secret" family recipe is being passed down!

Now, I have known how to make biscuits and gravy for....well...a long time now.  Probably since I was 8 or 9, watching my Grandma in her kitchen.  Now...don't go get all crazy...  This is my own recipe from what I've learned from her over the years.  Which is a great thing!  It has at least half the fat, but still has all the delicious, creamy, taste bud pleasing, goodness you'd expect from Grandma's Gravy!

Looks just like Grandma's.  Don't forget the extra pepper!

So let's get started!!!

You'll Need:
1# of your favorite sausage
4 cups of whole or 2% milk
3-4 Tbsp of Flour
Salt/Pepper
A whisk, skillet, patience, and a strong arm ;)

Brown your sausage like you normally would, chopping it into some crumbles as you go.
After it's cooked, drain the fat.
Add back to your skillet, and with a regular ol' tablespoon from your silverware drawer, measure out 3 heaping tablespoons of flour.
Adding one at a time, to your sausage, mixing well in between scoops.
With your skillet (now on medium-med high heat),  SLOWLY add in your milk. 
I season the gravy as I go.  It can lump quickly, so never ever walk away.
If you're baking biscuits, now is a good time to pop those in.  Then everything will all be ready and piping hot!
Continue to stir the gravy continuously until nice and thick.
FYI:  This make a ton of gravy, but it re-heats beautifully.  A nice tip for those leftovers - Add a splash of milk and stir before microwaving.  Continue to add milk (little by little) until its the consistency you like. 

Enjoy!

Cheese Ravioli Bake

Our family loves pasta!  When my daughter was younger, she was douse herself in the stuff! LOL

One of my favorite things about making pasta, is that it is always a cinch to whip up.  You do the short prep, throw it in the oven, go about your business, and in 30-45 min's minutes, you have a meal worth bragging about.

Today, I'm here to share one of these meals.  No Thank You Card, required ;)

You'll Need:
1# Ground Beef
handful of chopped onion (I used frozen)
handful of chopped bell pepper (again, I used frozen)
3 cloves of garlic
26oz. Jar of spaghetti sauce
1c. water
cheese filled ravioli (found mine in freezer section)
seasonings of your choice - I like salt, pepper, italian seasoning, and a smig of extra basil for this recipe.
Shredded Italian Cheese Blend (just enough to cover the top - About a cup)
Parmesan Cheese *Optional

Before starting, preheat your oven to 350.
In a skillet, brown burger, garlic, chopped veg, and add seasonings.

Once the mixture is cooked, drain fat, and return to stove.
Add spaghetti sauce and water.  Mix well.
While that sits (I leave the burner on low), grab an 8x8 baking dish, spray with non-stick spray, add cheese ravioli, enough to fully line the bottom (its ok is some overlap a bit),

then pour on your meat mixture, then cheese.

Cover and bake 35 min's. 
If you like parm cheese, add that after the 35 min's, and bake uncovered an additional 5-10, until cheese is hot and bubbly.

Upon removal, I recommend you let it sit for 10 min's.  It's piping hot and oozes all over the place otherwise.  Not ideal for a pretty presentation for company.  HOWEVER, with the way this smells, it's always too tempting for us to wait! ;)

Enjoy!

Color Your World - Brown

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A beautiful friend told me about the Color Your World challenge.  I loved her post, and wanted to get on board last month, but I have to say, I was looking too deep into the challenge and forgot to relax and think about the things that really make me happy and are present in my everyday life.

This month, the challenge relates to the color brown.  For me, this is was so easy to relate too, since November is all about brown!  From the trees, to the year end yard work that needs to be tended, to harvest leaves and Indian corn, to the preparations to the big turkey day, the turkey itself (hey - its brownish ;)), to the color I want our fall pictures to host.

How does the color brown affect you this month and your lifestyle?

If you'd like to share, get on board the gravy train, and visit the Color Your World page.

Let's color the world together!

Healthy Living During Pregnancy

Hi everyone.  I'm Katie, and I'm so excited to be guest posting today on Crafty Momma!!

Today, I'm here to share with you about how to have a healthier outlook on living.  Specifically healthy living during pregnancy.

Before I got pregnant, I was in relatively good health. I was active, my diet was semi-healthy, my energy was high and I rarely got sick. However, at the beginning of my first trimester, I started feeling ill. I was tired all the time, I craved fatty, salty and sugary foods and I was constantly suffering from head and body aches. I told myself this was normal. Like many other women, I assumed that pregnancy was a time to indulge my every craving and just take it easy.

About ten weeks into my pregnancy, I never thought I'd make it the entire 40 weeks. I was so tired that I began missing work and other commitments, and my body ached all over. I knew something had to give. I decided to speak to my OB/GYN about my symptoms.

I found out that the reason I was feeling so unwell was probably the result of my poor diet and decreasing activity levels. My doctor ran some tests and told me both my blood pressure and glucose levels were higher than what they'd been just a few weeks prior. She strongly urged I get them under control and recommended a balanced, all-natural diet and moderate exercise.

At first, the thought of giving up my unhealthy snacks and 'round-the-clock rest made me nervous. I could barely make it out the door to work! How was I supposed to find the strength to exercise? But I knew I had to give it a shot.

First, I focused on diet. I combated unhealthy food cravings with fresh, natural meals and snacks, and I filled my plate with whole grains, colorful produce and lean protein. To my surprise, I started feeling more energetic within a couple days. I felt better physically and my mind was more focused and alert. After a couple weeks of healthy eating, I decided it was time to work out. I began walking two miles a day, three times a week.

Going into my second trimester of pregnancy, I'd never felt better. My blood pressure and glucose levels were back under control and I felt like a million bucks. I was sleeping better and I had natural, lasting energy throughout the day. And it was all thanks to foods like the following:

• Whole grains. These foods provide lots of energy without raising blood glucose, which is extremely important during pregnancy for women at risk for gestational diabetes. 
• Fresh produce. I ate fruits and vegetables of all types, and included at least two types of produce with each meal. This allowed me to receive all the vitamins and minerals I needed to support a healthy pregnancy, plus powerful antioxidants that fight off illness and disease. 
• Lean protein. Grilled fish and chicken, plus beans and legumes are my favorites. These foods are packed with essential iron and other minerals that kept me strong and healthy during my pregnancy.
• Water. A woman's body requires lots of fluids during pregnancy. To avoid dehydration, I drank at least ten glasses a day and avoided sugary, caffeinated sodas and teas. 

Before delivery, I consulted with my doctor about healthy choices to make about my baby and myself as soon as she was born. He educated me about options like cord blood banking, immunizations, and the best ways to help myself recover. After I had my baby, I stuck to my diet. By that point, my taste buds had changed so much that I no longer wanted those unhealthy foods! Now I have the energy it takes to be a mom, and I know I'm setting a healthy example for my baby.

Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.

JcPenny's FREE Haircuts

JcPenny's FREE Haircuts for kids is back! 

This offer is valid all through the month of November - Sunday's only - for kids grades K-6th.  Nice!!

My advice is to make sure you call ahead for an appointment.  They book up quick(!), but hey...free is free!

Snip, Snip - Hooray!

Breakfast Square Wrap

Mmm...There is a certain somewhere I get these things ALL the time.  They're additively yummy, and I can honestly say I have felt like I was going through withdraws if I wasn't able to get one!

You'll Need:
Tortilla Shell
Turkey sausage (shown) but pork is my favorite!
Scrambled Eggs
Slice of Cheese
Vegetables and picante sauce, if you like

To start lay your tortilla shell on a flat surface, and add your hot sausage patty:

Add a piece of sliced cheese on top:

Then your eggs:

Start wrapping it up.  I fold all 4 corners to center:

Throw the square wrap, back into your skillet, you used to cook the eggs to seal the seams, cut it up and dive in.

CAUTION:  You'll want to double, triple, or maybe even quadruple the recipe.  Everyone around you will want one!

Holiday's Homemade - Come Join Us!

There has been a fun little project I've been working on with a fantastic group of gals.  This project has been kept top secret until TODAY! 

It's been such a fun journey over the course of the last several months.  These group of gals have inspired me so much, and they're all so incredibly talented.

We truly couldn't be more excited to unveil the beginning works of our "baby" with you!

One of the questions we're asking everyone "What is YOUR favorite holiday tradition?"
Psst...If you share your story with us on our Facebook Page - We'll put it on our home page! Holla!!

Lots of excitement coming your way! So click on over, and check us out.

We'd love to meet you...