Basic Homemade Gravy

2 tablespoons meat drippings or butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1½ to 2 cups of broth, water and/or half-and-half, or any combination of the three

Salt to taste

In a regular skillet, stir together the meat drippings (or butter) and flour over medium-high heat, making a paste. Brown the flour mixture as much or as little as desired. Slowly add the liquid (broth, water or half-and-half), whisking constantly. Add only enough liquid to the pan to mix well with the flour mixture and thicken. Bring mixture back to a boil before adding more liquid, whisking constantly. Taste the gravy and make adjustments with more liquid or salt. Serve immediately.

Start to finish: less than 20 minutes

Yield: about 1 ½ cups

Approximate values per tablespoon: 20 calories, 1.6 g fat (1 g saturated), 4 mg cholesterol, 0.6 g protein, 1 g carbohydrates, no dietary fiber, 80 mg sodium. Nutritional analysis is based on vegetable broth and butter. Other gravies will differ.

- Alicia Ross