December 17, 2005
Crater Gravy
I was going to save this recipe for the week of August 6th. That was when Judge Crater disappeared, and the juxtiposition appealed to my sense of humor, but he really had nothing to do with the recipe and enough people will be making mashed potatoes in the next few days that it wouldn't have been fair to hold it back.
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 can beef broth -- (10 oz.)
3/4 cup water
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup -- (10 oz.)
Melt the butter and blend in flour. As soon as the flour starts to darken, add the broth and water and cook until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Add mushroom soup, stirring constantly until fully blended. Cook another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. It won't be quite as good as if you made it with pan drippings from roast beef, but it will be lower in cholesterol, and the results will be consistant.
Prepare mashed potatoes per your favorite recipe; ours does not call for peeling them. Form the mashed potatoes into a mountain-shaped pile on your plate, and form a crater in the middle. Pour the gravy into the crater from which it gets its name.