Biscuits & Gravy

8 biscuits (refrigerated or homemade)

1 package pork sausage (I prefer spicy)

1/4 C flour

2-3 C milk

Bake biscuits according to package directions. Cook sausage over medium heat until completely heated through. Add flour and mix well. Slowly add milk, 1/2 cup at a time until desired thickness. Remove gravy from heat. Serve immediately over biscuits.

Jamaica's Thanksgiving Leftovers Soup

Broth

Carcass from one roasted turkey

1 large onion, quartered

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped

4 garlic cloves, smashed

1 bay leaf

10 whole black peppercorns

Add all ingredients to a large stock pot and just cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for 1-2 hours. Strain solids out of broth and set broth aside.

Soup

1 large onion, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 stalks celery, sliced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tbs olive oil

3 tbs melted butter

6 tbs flour

2 C stuffing

1 tsp rosemary

1-2 C shredded turkey

1 can corn, drained

salt and pepper

Heat oil in stock pot used to create broth (no need to wash). Add onions and garlic and cook until golden brown. Add carrots, celery, rosemary and reserved broth. Bring to a simmer and cook vegetables until soft, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix butter, flour, salt and pepper together until smooth. Add stuffing and mix until well combined. Roll dumpling mixture into small balls and drop into simmering soup. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Gently stir in turkey meat and corn. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Jamaica's Beer Cheese Soup

2 T butter
1 c carrots, diced
1 c celery, diced
1 c onions, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cans (14 oz.) vegetable broth
1/2 c flour
2 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 bottle (12 oz.) beer
freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter in medium sauce pan and add carrots, celery, onions and garlic. Cook on medium until tender (about five minutes). Add vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes. In a bowl, mix cheese and flour then slowly add to sauce pan while stirring until melted. Add beer and pepper. Serve with bread or croutons.

Jamaica's Chili Baked French Fries

potatoes, washed well
chili powder
cumin
dried rosemary
olive oil
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut potatoes into thin rectangles. Leave on the skin. Coat with olive oil and season to taste (a little goes a long way). Bake on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil approximately 20-25 minutes, turning once.

Jamaica's Garlic Parmesan Kale

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2-3 slices of bacon (optional)
1 bunch of kale, rinsed and torn off the stalks into bite size pieces
1/2 t crushed red pepper
shredded Parmesan cheese, to taste
olive oil
salt and pepper

Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with olive oil and heat to medium low. Add garlic and bacon and mix until garlic is golden and bacon is crispy. Add kale, red pepper, salt and pepper and mix to coat with oil. Cook approximately five minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat and add shredded cheese to taste.

Grandma Jacobs Carrot Cake

1 1/4 Cups Oil (use vegetable or canola)
4 Eggs
2 Cups Sugar
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. Salt
3 Cups of Grated Carrots
2 Cups Flour
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Cup chopped nuts (Grandma used Walnuts)

Using a mixer combine oil, eggs , sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix in remaining ingredients- pour into greased pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until springs back when touched. Let cool before frosting.

Frosting-
1/2 stick of Butter
2 -8OZ pkgs of Cream Cheese
Dash of Salt
2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Cream first 3 ingredients - gradually add powdered sugar. I like to beat it well and get it really fluffy and add a little cinnamon and nutmeg. You can add chopped nuts to the top of the cake after frosting.

Homemade Stock-Any kind

Take the biggest pan you have and fill with water- for chicken stock- add chicken pieces or whole chicken- we like white meat so I use bone in breasts for this. Sometimes I use legs or thighs and make the stock then give the meat to the puppies as a treat. Anyhoo, set the stove to medium and add a couple of celery stalks, a couple of carrots (clean but not peeled), onion (cut in half but not peeled) or you can use onion powder, garlic (to taste) or garlic powder, salt and pepper. Let simmer for several hours and then strain everything out. Remove the meat from the bones and discard and the veggies and bones. If you want vegetable stock just use the vegetables but more of them. So good and so easy. MUCH cheaper than buying canned or boxed stock.