Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

my mama's cathead biscuits with tomato-bacon gravy

Recipe by
Tammy Raynes
Natchitoches, LA

Okay as promised. Here is my Mama's recipe for Cathead Biscuits and Tomato-Bacon Gravy. She would make these every morning for breakfast. Sometimes we would just eat the biscuits with a bowl of oatmeal. We didn't know we were poor as dirt when we were growing up. Mama always made it seem like we were rich with her delicious meals.

yield 7 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For my mama's cathead biscuits with tomato-bacon gravy

  • 2 c
    self-rising flour
  • 1 Tbsp
    sugar
  • 3/4 tsp
    salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    plus 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
  • 1/2 c
    cold butter, cut into 1/4" cubes
  • 1 c
    whole buttermilk
  • 1 c
    shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tbsp
    chopped fresh chives
  • 1 lg
    egg, lightly beaten
  • TOMATO-BACON GRAVY
  • 4
    slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/3 c
    finely chopped onion
  • 1/4 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 can
    (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 c
    tomato juice
  • 1 c
    whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1/8 tsp
    ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp
    garlic powder

How To Make my mama's cathead biscuits with tomato-bacon gravy

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • 2
    In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a fork or pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Add buttermilk, stirring until combined and dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Stir in cheese and chives.
  • 3
    Using a 1/2 cup measure, drop dough onto prepared pan, spacing 2 inches apart. Brush tops with egg, and sprinkle with remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
  • 4
    FOR GRAVY: In a large skillet, cook bacon and onion over medium heat until bacon is crisp and onion is softened, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, tomato juice, and milk, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Stir in salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
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