Beth Moore's Gravy Recipe

Beth Moore is not only a great writer, Bible teacher, (and wife, mother and grandmother), the woman can cook. In her words she claims not to be "stellar," but rather just a good country cook.  Well...those kinds of cooks are my favorite. My Granny and my parents are both great cooks. I'm a good cook myself - based on what my family tells me, and their estimation is all that matters to me.  In fact, my husband often says, "that was a feast" and it has become a family saying that especially tickles my daughter-in-law Erin.

Anyway, Beth wrote a great post on her blog this week about "Holiday Cooking Hints" and she and I had talked earlier in the day about doing a tutorial next year. How FUN! Go here for the complete post  with lots of great recipes and great ideas. Siestaville is the best blog community anywhere.  Following is her gravy recipe taken from the blog post:

Beth Moore's Gravy Recipe

Now, for a few gravy hints. The drippings to a turkey are absolutely divine. After you’ve let the bird cool off enough to work with the drippings, tear open your roasting bag and use a cup or ladle to pour a generous amount into a measuring cup exactly like this:

See how the spout is at the bottom? The fattest part of the liquid will rise to the top after just a few minutes. You only want to use the bottom part to make your gravy or it’s too greasy. Set the filled measuring cup to the side until it’s time to make your gravy. Do you girls have iron skillets? They are best for making gravy but not imperative. You want it to be one of the last things you do before serving your meal. I’m going to tell you how to do basic gravy rather than giblet gravy so you’ll know how to make it from any roast whether beef, pork, or bird. I’ll leave giblet gravy to one of the other cooks on here.

Go back to your measuring cup of drippings. Pour that lower (less fat) half of your liquid in a skillet. Heat it up to a rolling boil. Depending on how much liquid you have in your skillet, put about a heaping tablespoon of flour (not into your pan yet!) into about a fourth cup of warm water and stir it up really well until the lumps are out. While the liquid in your skillet boils, pour in the flour mixture and stir constantly for at least several minutes. After it’s well mixed, decrease your heat to a low boil. Add some salt and pepper if the liquid needs it. (You can’t be afraid to taste it in process or it won’t be well seasoned.) The liquid in the skillet will all begin to thicken. Keep it boiling until it looks like gravy. Grin. And add some water – just a little at a time – until it has the consistency you’re looking for. Especially with any of my bird-gravies (chicken or turkey), I like to add no more than a dime-size of this:

It simply adds a little color. For those of you with access to a Williams Sonoma, however, this is absolutely FABULOUS (this is the only thing on here today you can’t get from a regular grocery store):

I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones and that you take the time to truly give thanks to our Great God for His goodness to us.  This past Sunday night at my church our interim pastor, Joel Southerland, actually had us physically write down our blessings. Since I've been "counting to 1,000" with Ann Voskamp on Multitude Mondays that was near and dear to my heart. I'll be sharing my list soon. 

Happy Gravy Making!

Meet My New Pastor!

Praising God this Thanksgiving Week from Whom ALL Blessings Flow!

Ephesians 3:20-21

20   Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly

 abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

21   to Him be glory in the church

by Christ Jesus to all generations

forever and ever. Amen.

My home church (Second Baptist Church) has a new pastor and he will begin his ministry on January 1, 2012. Our wonderful Pastor Search Team sought the heart of God for our church and we have supported them in prayer. This video below is how the team presented the pastor to our church. (It was created by a very talented young woman, Mrs. Brooke Hering. Thank you Brooke for sharing your work with me for my blog.)

God is blessing us exceedingly abundantly above all that we could have asked (and we did ask in much prayer). My new pastor's name is Dr. Jim Perdue, his wife is Stephanie and they have four precious children, two sons and two daughters. Jim grew up at our church and he is coming home after being gone away to college, seminary, marrying and having a family, and pastoring. I am especially thankful to God for His mercy and love. His timing is His timing and it is always right and always for our good and His glory. 

1,000 GIFTS, #409 to #426

My heart is as near to overflowing these days as it has ever been - aside from my salvation day, my wedding day, my sons' births and weddings, and the days my grandchildren were born---I am full of praise and thanksgiving to the Good LORD for His unmerited grace and tender mercies to me these recent days.

409. I'm starting my list today with the blessed news that my church has a new pastor, Dr. Jim Perdue, and he will begin his ministry at our church on January 1, 2012. He has a lovely wife and four beautiful children. He grew up in our church and is now coming home after getting his seminary education and pastoring the past 10 or so years. HE LOVES US! What a season we endured prior to his coming - God has surely been my Shield, Defense, Strong Tower, Refuge, and my Best Friend. Thank you JESUS! The timing is just God as we approach the season of Thanksgiving. I am most humbly thankful.

410. Fall is my favorite season. I praise God for His gifts of seasons to enjoy. The color this year has been spectacular. 

411. I received a voice mail last week from a young woman named Fran that blessed my heart in the deepest places. She loves Jesus and is in the "zone" raising 3 young men. Her desire is to live a life that counts and she is so much FUN! We are "siestas" which is an affectionate term for members of the Living Proof Ministries blog community. It is the most genuine, caring group of believers ever. Right siestas?  Thank you Fran for encouraging me on every level. You know I love you and I'm here for you.

412. Following these wonderful young women as they journeyed to Ecuador on a Compassion bloggers trip. Sophie, Melanie, Ann, Amanda, Kelly.  You bless me!

413. I attended a fundraising banquet last week for Covenant Care Ministries, an adoption agency that places children in two-parent Christian homes. The speaker talked about everyone's adoption story...as we are adopted into the family of God by the provision of Christ's death on the cross. Hallelujah and Amen.

414. My two oldest grandchildren go to Mother's Morning Out twice weekly at their church. Last week the firetruck came.  Oh the JOY! My grandboy is on the front row and is seated - far left. Everything to Zeke is "so fun."

415. My daughter-in-law Erin really loves to bake and she's very good at it - actually I think she's quite good at everything she does. Check out her cake against the cover of the October Southern Living Magazine.  I told you she was good!

416. My dad is a retired Marine Captain and Vietnam War veteran. I am so proud of him. He has always worked hard and provided for our family. He loves this country and we fly the flags here at our farm every day of the year - but this past Veterans Day, 11-11-11, they seemed extra bright against the blue November sky.

417. Captain Tom, my father. I love him.

418. I've made quilts for each of my 3 grandchildren for Christmas gifts. These are the labels I will sew on the back of the quilts for Zeke and Madie Ruth.

419. In my father's footsteps, and in his boots. This is my youngest grandboy wearing my son's boots.  Couldn't you just squeeze him?

420. There is a song on Travis Cottrell's latest CD that is entitled "Thanks Be To Our God."  That song has been used of God to minister to my soul - I'm talking every single time I hear it. It is anointed. I'm so grateful.  Reference #409. "For the road that leads from darkness into light...for the hope that rescues us from endless night..."

421. Worship. Just as We Are. There is another song on that same release that is the "Just As I Am" invitation song used in hundreds of Billy Graham crusades. But Travis's version has a beautiful addition about coming to Christ and how He receives us JUST AS WE ARE that my husband has used in our worship services the past 2 Sundays. Just get the whole CD - you will be blessed.

 I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desperate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned

by the blood of Christ the Lamb

And I'm welcomed with open arms

Praise God - Just As I Am...

422. Planning our Thanksgiving menu via text messages with my sisters Joan and Jo. So glad this is a year where all the family will gather together (at our home) and not one of those off years where we scatter - even though I do know those years are blessings to the other families too!

423. My Wednesday night Bible study group is going through Beth Moore's "Wising Up - Proverbs study." Last week we learned about Wisdom for Moms. Not a dry eye. My life's greatest joy has been to raise my two sons. No other accolade or accomplishment means more to me that being a mom and Gran Jan.

424. I am thankful for my home and the farming community in which I live. The land of cotton. I don't have to "wish I was there" as the old song says...I am there. It is cotton harvest time in these here parts...I can't help but wonder what my paternal grandfather and his father would have thought about all this "modern equipment."

425. I'm blessed to have a mom who is a wonderful gift of grace to our family. She recently went on a retreat with some senior citizens from our church and they were able to meet Dr. David Jeremiah. I listen to this man preach most every weekday morning on the Sony radio in my bathroom as I'm getting ready for work. He is a great communicator. (That's my mom in the white jacket on the far right.)

426. This lone red maple is so beautiful in the field. The variety is "October Glory" maple, and even though we are now in November - she is still GLORIOUS! I'm in the fall season of my life too as I approach my 54th birthday in just 2 days. My life's desire is to stand strong (and sometimes alone) and say "Soli Deo Gloria."  For the Glory of God Alone! Yes I know I just made an analogy to a tree...but I love it.

For the strengh to carry on
And forgiveness great and strong
And the promise of Your mercies ever new
Thanks Be To Our God