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Southern Tomato Gravy

One dish that is well-loved in the South is tomato gravy.  Some enjoy it over biscuits, others like it on top of toast or grits, and some enjoy it over mashed potatoes or rice.  I love it any way I can get it.  My mother and my mother-in-law Miss Sue both made rich and delicious tomato gravies.  My recipe is a combination of the ones I watched them make and enjoyed eating with them.

1 pound of bacon, fried in a cast iron skillet
3Tablespoons of the fresh bacon drippings
3 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon sugar (My mother said if you want to have a great tomato flavor, you have to add sugar)
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2  cup tomato juice 
1 cup water or beef broth or milk (Miss Sue often used milk--I do sometimes, but most times I just use water)


In a large cast iron skillet, fry bacon and remove to paper towel to drain.  Leave 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings in skillet.  Over medium heat, slowly shake flour into bacon grease and stir to make a roux.  I cook the roux, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes until medium brown.  Slowly pour in 1 cup of water or milk to make gravy, whisking to make sure there are no lumps in the flour.  Add tomato juice and continue to stir.  Once all lumps are gone from gravy, add the canned tomatoes, pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce and sugar.  When gravy starts to bubble, reduce temperature to simmer.  Toss in bay leaf and let simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring often. If gravy becomes too thick, add a little more water. Remove bay leaf.  You can crumble one or two pieces of bacon into the gravy right before serving or just serve the bacon on the side with the tomato gravy on top of biscuits, toast, grits, mashed tomatoes or rice. 
NOTE:  If you have some very ripe tomatoes around, chop them and add to the gravy with the canned tomatoes for an even richer flavor!

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