1960 Tomato Gravy Food

OLD-FASHIONED TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 2 tablespoons in pan. Add onion to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended; cook and stir over low heat until mixture is golden brown (do not burn). Gradually whisk in tomato juice. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in bacon. Serve over biscuits.

GRANDMA HAWLEY'S TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt the bacon fat and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the bubbles subside, pour in the tomatoes and stir with a wooden spoon until the fat has married with the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring regularly, until reduced by half, 2 hours.
• Heat the evaporated milk and the whole milk in separate saucepans over low heat until they form a skin on the surface. Remove and discard the skin from the evaporated milk, then pour into the tomatoes; stir until incorporated.
• Put the flour in a large mixing bowl. Remove and discard the skin from the whole milk. Quickly pour the milk into the bowl with the flour, whisking vigorously (to avoid clumps). Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot with the tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. (The consistency should be velvety.) Season with 2 tablespoons each salt and pepper.

MEATLOAF WITH TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toast the bread crumbs in a dry skillet over medium heat until browned and fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Add the olive oil, onions, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet and cook until onions are tender, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly. Add the onions to the bread crumbs along with the meat, cheese, and Worcestershire sauce. Toss and mix gently. Add the eggs and stir to coat the meat completely.
• Transfer to a foil-lined sheet pan and gently press into desired shape. Bake until an instant read thermometer registers 160 degrees F in the center of the loaf, about 45 minutes.
• Tent the meatloaf with foil and let rest for 15 minutes while you make the gravy (or you can make the gravy while the meatloaf is baking).
• Gravy: Cook the onions, garlic, and oregano in the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and bay leaf. Stir until paste turns brick red and garlic is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Whisk in Parmesan cheese, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Discard the bay leaf and transfer the sauce to a gravy boat. Slice the meatloaf and serve with the gravy.
• Copyright (c) 2004 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved.

1960 TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat bacon grease.
• Add onion and fry until golden.
• Add flour, salt and pepper and cook until light brown (like a roux), stirring constantly.
• Add canned tomatoes, sugar, bay leaf and celery leaves or celery salt.
• Cook for another five minutes.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Rub through a strainer or serve without straining for chunkier sauce.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.

ITALIAN TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over low heat. Saute the garlic, red pepper flakes, and herbs for 2 minutes until the herbs are fragrant and garlic is golden (but not overly brown.) Raise the heat to medium, add onion and carrot; cook for 5 minutes until they breakdown and are soft. Deglaze with red wine and reduce to evaporate the alcohol. Hand crush the canned tomatoes and add to the pot, along with its liquid. Add a pinch of sugar to cut down on the acidity from the tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Let simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered.

OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Put the chopped tomatoes in a saucepan with 1 cup of the chicken stock. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer the tomatoes while you prepare the roux.
• Put the bacon drippings or butter in a medium saucepan and place it over medium-low heat.
• When the fat has melted and the foaming subsides, add the flour.
• Cook, whisking constantly until the roux is just light brown. It should be about the color of peanut butter. Don't let it burn.
• Remove the pan from the heat and gradually stir in the simmering tomato and broth mixture.
• Return the tomato mixture to the heat and stir in 1/4 cup of milk, cream, water, or stock.
• Whisk in tomato paste, if using, along with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring until hot and bubbling. If too thick, add more liquid (milk, cream, water or stock) as needed.
• Garnish the sauce with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley and serve.

CREAMY GRITS WITH TOMATO GRAVY AND GREENS

Steps:

• For the grits: Bring the milk and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the grits, stirring with a fork to prevent any lumps from forming. Once the grits have started to thicken, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• For the tomato gravy: Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the grape tomatoes, sugar and garlic and cook until the tomatoes start to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter; let melt. Stir in flour and cook until starting to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth, tomato paste, salt and pepper until smooth. Continue cooking until the mixture comes to a boil; it will thicken as it heats. When thick like a gravy, remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Serve the warm grits in shallow bowls, topped with tomato gravy and collard greens.
• Prepare the collards for cooking by cutting the large stems from the center of the leaves. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips
• Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the raw collards (the leaves can be pushed down tightly and will wilt to about one-quarter volume as they cook). Add the ham hock or pork and bring the water to a boil. Add the collards and toss with tongs until the water returns to a boil and the leaves wilt down into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, or until tender. Stir occasionally, checking to be sure there is enough liquid to prevent scorching. Taste the liquid and add salt if needed. Serve with buttermilk cornbread and hot sauce.

SOUTHERN STYLE TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Reserving the drippings in the pan, remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Stir the butter and flour into the bacon drippings. Scrape the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon; cook and stir together until beginning to thicken, about 3 minutes. Stir the tomatoes into the mixture, using the spoon to break the tomatoes into small pieces while cooking; season with salt and pepper. Add the cream cheese and heavy cream; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until hot and thick, about 10 minutes.