Nothing in my family says LOVE like biscuits and gravy! Eating them transports me back to my grandma's breakfast table, or to her sisters, my grand "Aint Eunice" who often made cocoa gravy instead of sausage, to drench them in.

Show some love this Valentine's morning by making an old-fashioned breakfast treat, and while you're at it, cut the biscuits into heart shapes for added smiles and a morning pick-me-up!

Buttermilk Biscuits:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda *
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, margarine, or shortening
• 3/4 cup buttermilk *

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. In large bowl with fork, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add the buttermllk and using a fork, mix just until a soft dough forms that leaves the side of the bowl.
5. Turn only lightly floured surface; knead 6-8 strokes to mix dough thoroughly.
6. Roll out the dough, 1/2 inch thick for high fluffy biscuits.
7. With floured 2 inch biscuit cutter (or heart shaped cookie cutter) cut the biscuits out.
8. Place biscuits onto ungreased cookie sheet one inch apart for crusty biscuits.
9. Gather scraps, press together, reroll and cut until all dough is used.
10. Back 12-15 minutes until golden.

* Plain Biscuits: If you do not have buttermilk, prepare as above but: 

• Omit baking soda.
• Increase baking powder to 1 Tablespoon.
• Use regular milk in place of buttermilk.

Sausage Gravy:

Ingredients:

• 1 (9.6 ounce) package Pork Sausage
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• alt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until all pink is gone, stirring frequently.
2. Stir in flour.
3. Gradually add milk; cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, stirring constantly.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Season to taste with salt and pepper (We love a LOT of pepper in ours, but do several taste-tests before adding more.)
5. Split biscuits in half. Place 2 halves on plate; top with about 1/3 cup gravy.

Great with a side of red, ripe, juicy strawberries!