Greenup Gravy

This road leads uphill to Aunt Jean's

Why do I love biscuits and gravy? Let me count the ways.... I cannot start without Greenup, Kentucky. Greenup is the hometown of my Grandma's family and the root of my gravy lovin'. Every year while growing up our big family vacation was to visit Grandma's sisters in Northern KY. Those journeys, (and also the trips to Maryland to visit her oldest sister,) hold some of the greatest memories in my heart. Aunt Jean made biscuits and gravy every visit, while Grandma and Mom helped. My brother and I waited, fiddling with the plastic faux grapes and glass fruit centerpiece that never left her table. I have got to get some of those, by the way!

Aunt Jean, Grandma, Mom and now myself; all made gravy the same way. It's generational, it's legacy, it's more than a comfort food. Gravy is love. Well at least in my family it is. Hearing my Grandma laugh and reminisce with her sisters throughout their 60's and 70's was some of the greatest white noise I have ever heard while falling asleep. Add the smell and sound of gravy bubbling in the morning and you have got the recipe for a sweet and treasured memory. I can only hope my kids will learn to enjoy my gravy! It will grow on them, I'll wear them down.

This year I proclaimed to my family that for the Christmas season I wished to focus more on making memories than gifts. Although I love buying and giving gifts; especially to my children, I know that those store bought items are probably not what they are going to remember most when they are old and whisking gravy for their own grandchildren. My Grandma spoiled me at Christmastime with gifts, but the most treasured item I have from her now is her favorite kitchen knife. It's worn, it's old, it's ugly but it's the sharpest knife I have. I love it because it was hers, something she treasured and touched every day. She would effortlessly peel potatoes using that knife while we talked. Potatoes to fry to accompany the biscuits and gravy of course! Neither of us were aware in those moments that we were making treasured memories. But we were.

Moms and Grandmas- we make beautiful memories for our kids every day. Probably without any thought or intention. My Mom had the superhero ability to make a turkey feast and homemade tree decorations for the Christmas tree we cut down in our woods. We did this one year in our little cabin up north. I was so impressed. Now I am sure that this took some intention on her part, but it was not expensive and she was probably not thinking "oh these kids are going to remember this forever!" We repeated some of these traditions a few times but they were so special I will never forget it. My daughter just told me today that she loves Christmas Eve because we read a story together, make cookies for Santa, pray and tuck into bed. That tradition requires little effort but means so much to her. So if you forget to move the darned elf for 10 nights this month, or run out of time to bake your favorite cookie and get pre-made dough instead, or heaven forbid you have to skip a gift your child requested of Santa:

(my oldest wrote in her Santa letter that she would like a Husky puppy, I'm not cold and dead so that's not happening! she's getting a stuffed animal version...)

Do not fear! You are creating wonderful moments for them when you don't know it! Aunt Jean's gravy, Grandma's knife, Mom's cabin creations, these are a few of my favorite things. And their gravy was love.

I would love to hear what some of your treasured food or holiday memories are!