Riding the (Pepsi) Gravy Train

Gravy ~ [grey-vee]  

–noun, plural -vies.

1.

the fat and juices that drip from cooking meat, oftenthickened, seasoned, flavored, etc., and used as a sauce for meat, potatoes, rice, etc.

2.

Slang .

a.

profit or money easily obtained or receivedunexpectedly.

b.

money illegally or dishonestly acquired, especiallythrough graft.

3.

something advantageous or valuable that is received orobtained as a benefit beyond what is due or expected.

This definition is not what immediately comes to my mind when I hear the word 'gravy'.  Say it multiple times, it's a weird word, but I digress.  When I think of gravy I think about how for years I couldn't make it unless I used a package and added water.  Then I went to culinary school and the light bulb went on!  It's really not difficult to make, someone just needed to show me the right steps, and how to do it so it didn't taste like flour.  Oh and those lumps too.  

My mom on the other hand, she could make gravy and she made tasty gravy.  One of my favorites is her gravy with pork chops, and fried chicken.  We ate gravy with almost everything, hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, or toast (SOS), beef gravy with her melt in your mouth roasts.  I'm getting hungry already.  She has one gravy though that is infamous in our family.  It is very polarizing ~ you either HATE it or LOVE it.  PEPSI gravy.  Yes, Pepsi as in Pepsi~ Cola.  She would make it with ham.  I've only made it once.  It's great with ham.  It's sweet, cloyingly so, which makes it fabulous with the salty ham.  I've never really cared for it, but yet I do...  I know,  doesn't make much sense so maybe I'm one of the "one the fence" people that can't decide about this gravy.  I actually prefer coke products, except in this instance.

For Easter this year in my mom's honor I am going to make a ham with Pepsi gravy.  I hope I can remember how to make it and that it tastes as good as I think it should.  I'll probably be the only one to eat it, my husband really dislikes it and I don't think my kids have ever had it.  We might be having dinner with friends on Easter so we'll see if they like it.  

I have years of memories of my mom, and her gravy making is one of them.  I will always remember that smell of ham and the 2 liter bottle of Pepsi on the counter waiting to be poured over the ham and then whipped into gravy.

Rest in Peace mom.  Your gravy traditions will continue!