Episode 12: Peanut Butter Gravy

Even I thought peanut butter gravy sounded weird when Dad told me about this gem from his childhood. I judged this idea hard. I was wrong. You may not be convinced yet but you’re going to love this. Trust me.

I’ve started cooking bacon in the oven now because my dad’s lungs react badly to the grease fumes from cooking it on the stove. It’s actually super easy to clean up when I cook it in the oven – I line a sheet pan with foil and cook the bacon on a rack so the grease stays in the foil. After I spoon some of the grease out to use for the gravy, the rest cools in the foil and it’s easy to throw away later! If you want an oven bacon recipe, here’s the one I use: How To Cook Bacon In The Oven (delish.com).

Even though I can bake biscuits from scratch, the Pillsbury Dough Guy biscuits in a can are so yummy that I often use them to save some time. This gravy is at its best on fresh biscuits.

Check out my Instagram to see a video of me making these! (Pan on Instagram)

Episode 12: Peanut Butter Gravy

Recipe by Pan Martin

Servings

2

servings

Ingredients

• 3-4 slices bacon

• 2-3 teaspoons bacon grease, (reserved from the pan)

• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup milk, or half-and-half

• Salt, to taste

• Freshly cracked black pepper, (optional)

Directions

• Cook the bacon
• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon to a plate and set aside.
• Carefully pour off excess grease, leaving 2–3 teaspoons in the pan.
• Make the slurry
• In a small jar or cup, combine the flour and milk (or half-and-half).
• Shake or whisk until completely smooth.
• Melt the peanut butter
• Add the peanut butter to the warm skillet with the bacon grease.
• Stir gently over medium-low heat until the peanut butter melts and becomes glossy.
• Build the gravy
• Slowly pour in the flour-milk mixture while stirring constantly.
• Continue to stir and heat until the gravy thickens, 2–4 minutes.
• Adjust consistency
• Too thick? Add a splash of milk.
• Too thin? Sprinkle in a pinch more flour or simmer a bit longer.
• Season and serve.

Of course, there are so many things in this yummy human recipe that I can’t have … so I made my own biscuits and “gravy.”

Pan’s Peanut Butter Breakfast Bites (Dog-Friendly)

Ingredients

• ½ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
• 1 cup rolled oats (or oat flour for smoother texture)
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1–3 tablespoons warm water or unsalted bone broth (dog-safe)

Directions

1. Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mash the banana until smooth.
3. Stir in peanut butter.
4. Add oats and mix until combined.
5. Add warm water or bone broth a little at a time until the dough is soft and scoopable – not sticky.
6. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions and gently flatten into little rounds.
7. Bake for 12–15 minutes until set but still soft.
8. Let cool completely.
   
   Optional “Gravy” Finish
   Stir bone broth or water into a teaspoon of peanut butter. Add broth a bit at a time until the right gravy consistency is reached and drizzle over a peanut butter bite.
   
   Storage
   Refrigerator: up to 5 days
   Freezer: up to 2 months
   (Thaw before serving)