Cream Gravy

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons pan drippings (from bacon)
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste

Heat drippings in skillet, add flour continuously stirring, cook on medium for a couple of minutes until a dark roux is formed.
Add milk slowly to skillet, and mix with roux using either a whisk or wooden spoon (be sure and press out any lumps).
Turn heat to low and continue stirring until mixture is thickened, a couple more minutes. Add pepper and salt to taste.
 If gravy is too thick for your taste, you can thin it by adding either more milk or water a tablespoon at a time.
Goes great with 7UP Biscuits, Crunchy Cajun Oven Fried Chicken, and Bisquick Breaded Porkchops.

You can substitute vegetable oil for the pan drippings, but honestly, it isn't as delicious.  The grease from turkey bacon is also acceptable.

Cheesy Spinach & Bacon Dip

Prep: 10 min
 Makes: 4 cups or 32 servings

Ingredients:
 1 pkg (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 lb (16oz) Velveeta, cut into 1/2 in cubes
4oz (1/2 pkg) Cream cheese, cubed
1 can (10oz) Rotel, undrained
8 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled



Microwave ingredients in microwaveable bowl on HIGH for 5 min, or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 minutes.

From: velveetarotel.com

Crackling Cornbread Stuffing

8 peppered bacon slices, coarsely chopped
Melted butter (if necessary)
Crackling Corn Bread (see recipe below)
2 cups chopped celery
2 large onions, finely chopped
1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp sage
1 egg
1/2 cup chicken stock

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F as soon as turkey comes out.

Saute bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, or tongs, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Reserve 1/4 cup bacon drippings, brush 13 x 9 x 2 inch glass baking dish with some remaining bacon drippings, or melted butter if necessary.

Crumble cornbread into a large bowl. Mix in celery, onion, pecans, sage, bacon and reserved 1/4 cup bacon drippings. Beat egg and broth in medium bowl to blend; stir into stuffing mixture. Loosely fill neck and main cavities of turkey with stuffing. Spoon remaining stuffing into prepared baking dish. Bake dressing until golden and cooked through, about 35 minutes.

Crackling Corn Bread
Can be prepared one day ahead. Wrap in airtight aluminum foil and store at room temperature.

8 peppered bacon slices, coarsely chopped
1 pkg. cornbread mix

Preheat oven to temperature specified on cornbread mix.

Saute bacon in a 10-in ovensafe skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Using a sloted spoon or tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Place skillet, with drippings, in oven to heat.

Prepare cornbread batter per directions on package, mix in sauted bacon. Pour batter into hot skillet. Bake per cornbread package directions, until golden and and firm to touch.  Turn corn bread out onto rack and cool completely. If prepared one day ahead, wrap in aluminum foil, store at room temperature.