[RECIPE] It's All Gravy, Baby

Photo: Gaelle Marcel via Unsplash

My Dad likes to say that Gravy is his favorite food. When I was a kid, I thought this was a ridiculous choice for a favorite. I mean, gravy is liquid! And boring! Right?

Now, many years and hundreds of meals later, I think I finally get the appeal of this earthy, understated sauce. Gravy is truly the heart of a meal, reduced to a golden liquid that highlights and enriches everything else piled on your plate. It's the glitter, the pillow mint, the CHERRY on your Thanksgiving dinner table. A good gravy makes the whole meal sing.

We asked friend of Sip Better Chef Mike Shannon for his classic gravy recipe and are happy to pass it on to you, right here. Please enjoy, and don't forget the wine!

In Chef Mike's own words: Great gravy—that velvety, luscious, flavorful glaze—is about two things: Texture and flavor. The texture is just a balance of ratios, fat to flour to liquid. The flavor starts with great stock. Make your own if you can. If not, use high quality, unsalted stock—not broth....

[FRIDAY FAVES] Stranger Things, Creepy Cocktails, and More

Photo: Ganapathy Kumar via Unsplash

Happy Halloweeeeeeen! We hope you've got some spooky plans for tomorrow! But for now, please enjoy this little list of things we liked this week:

FRIDAY FAVES - 10.30.20

- If you're spending Halloween night in, check out this round-up of spooky-licious cocktails.

- We're revisiting a few episodes of Stranger Things on Halloween and we're planning on using this guide for which wines to drink with the show!

- Are you a lipstick person? Then you MUST check out these gorgeous lipsticks created by makeup artist Lisa Eldridge! Here's a little line from their official description to entice you: "Each bullet has the appearance of beautifully plush velvet fabric, a ‘trompe l’oeil’ that has to be seen to be believed."

- Loving this chic way to display matches. Let the cozy candle nights begin!

- How cute are this family's group Halloween costumes?!

Have a safe weekend, friends!

[FRIDAY FAVES] Bubbles, Slippers, and Wes Anderson

Photo: Emily Rentsch

It's Friday, kids! We've been savoring sweets and feeling our civic duty over here at Sip Better. Read on for more fun things!

FRIDAY FAVES - 10.23.20

- We plan on celebrating voting early by mail (and the near end of this dang election!) with a glass of bubbly. Now THAT is what I call civic duty! Need a bubbly recommendation? We've got loads!

- Just got my copy of Dessert Person (pictured above) by Claire Saffitz, and boy does it shine! I spent last night flipping through it with a glass of Alvaro Palacios 'Camins del Priorat' and now I can't wait to make everything inside its pretty pages.

- Anne Hathaway stars in a lush and looney remake of "The Witches" (now streaming on HBO Max) and we are all in!

- Accidentally Wes Anderson (an Instagram account and book) is pure whimsy! Check it out when you're feeling blah.

- What if you were accidentally served a $2,000 bottle of wine?!

- I've been on a years long hunt for the best slippers and I think I've finally found them: Glerups! These...

[FRIDAY FAVES] White Pinot Noir and The Best Halloween House Decorations Ever

Photo: Courtesy of Carousel & Folk

Congratulations on crushing another week! Please enjoy the following little bits of fun:

FRIDAY FAVES - 10.16.20

- Kind of obsessed with alllll of the candles at Carousel & Folk. Especially these cloud candles!

- Been trying to use this simple thought from Cup of Jo to keep anxiety at bay.

- Have you ever tried a white Pinot Noir before? Get on it! Start with this one from Left Coast Cellars.

- Artist Christine McConnell has the spookiest, kookiest Instagram account, perfect for this time of year. And she goes ALL OUT when decorating her house for Halloween!

Have a great weekend!

[FRIDAY FAVES] Apple Cake, Con Queens and More!

Photo: Emily Rentsch

It's Friday (but who's keeping track, right?!)! Here's a little list of fun things we found on the internet and beyond this week. Enjoy!

FRIDAY FAVES - 10.9.20

- Highly recommend making some apple cake to have with your morning coffee. This recipe is easy and yummy, but we suggest you add a big pinch of salt to the batter. :)

- Wanna turn that apple cake into a brunch situation? Pop open a bottle of this to go with it: Abbazia di Novacella Kerner! It's sleek, it's floral, it's the BEST.

- Did you know about the Orionids Meteor Shower this month? So cool!

- Loving this new podcast about the Hollywood Con Queen (and yes, she is AT LARGE!).

- This is a really informative post on how CBD works, from Wit & Delight.

Happy weekending!