Southern Biscuits And Gravy Like No Others

If you're looking for a real Southern breakfast, you have to have biscuits and gravy.

And when you're in Nashville, there's only one place to go for the best biscuits and gravy -- The Loveless Café, where Carol Fay whips up the most famous and delicious offerings of both.

Fay started working at the café 29 years ago, when she was in high school, as a dishwasher. She's now head chef, and the keeper of the secret and famous biscuit recipe.

On The Early Show Tuesday, Fay didn't give up that recipe -- but DID reveal lots of others -- and showed co-anchor Harry Smith some key biscuit-making techniques. She also fed breakfast to all comers, on the campus of Belmont University, the sight of Tuesday night's presidential debate.

The preserves, hams, bacon, biscuit mix, and more featured on the show are available at tomorrow are available at the Hams & Jams Country Market.

RECIPES

Sausage Gravy

1/2 pound pork sausage
2 tablespoons all purpose-flour
1 cup milk
Salt (to taste)
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the pork sausage and crumble into small pieces. Add the flour and cook for 5 minutes. Add the milk and bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, black pepper, and cayenne and stir until blended.

Strawberry Preserves

Gently rinse the strawberries with cold water. Set in the sink and let dry. Put the berries in a large pot with the sugar. Let sit for 2 hours or until the strawberries release their juices. Bring the strawberries to a simmer on medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes. Gently stir; cook the berries until reduced by half or the mixture reaches jam thickness. Jar the preserves right out of the kettle, filling each jar to the top. Place top on jar as tight as possible.

Makes 4 cups

Hashbrown Casseroles

4 (12-ounce) bags shredded hash brown potatoes
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 (12-ounce) bags shredded Cheddar cheese
2 (12-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 (12-ounce) container of sour cream
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the potatoes, onion, cheese, soup, sour cream, salt and pepper. Mix well, pour into a casserole dish, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is browned.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Red-Eye Gravy

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (1/4 inch thick) bone-in center cut country ham slice
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1 cup water
2 to 3 teaspoons brown sugar

Place the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham slice and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on both sides until ham is brown. Remove the ham from the skillet. Add the brewed coffee, water and brown sugar to the drippings in the skillet. Bring to a boil and cool until the sugar dissolves. Serve with country ham, biscuits, eggs any style and stone ground grits.