These are some basic recipes that you may only want to make every so often, but might forget in between times. With only a few basic ingredients you can make quite a few different foods, and a lot cheaper than buying mixes for each one at the supercenter.

Homemade Biscuits

Gather up the kids and make em' right on the kitchen counter !!

2 cups flour, 1 tblsp Watkins baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 cup shortening, 3/4 cup milk.

Combine the dry ingredients and cut in shortening until it is evenly worked into the flour mixture. Add milk and stir into dough, put some flour on the counter and spoon out mixture on top. Knead 10-15 times and roll out. Use the top of a drinking glass to cut out biscuits. Spray a cooking sheet with Watkins cooking spray, put on the biscuits and bake 10 minutes at 475 degrees.

Did you know one can of Watkins cooking spray costing only $5.99 has as many uses as almost $20 worth of PAM cooking spray. See all the savings at

http://www.kbh100.com

Sausage Gravy

Many years ago when I was a breakfast cook, I learned how to make gravy that filled big kettles ! Here's the version that makes a family sized batch, and a couple of tips to make it come out right.

The first thing to do is brown the sausage, so as it cooks crush it up with a fork, and the first trick to remember is; don't cook it completely done before you begin adding flour. If you do, it will be rock hard before the flour gets brown. Secondly, the oil from the sausage is usually not enough. The browned flour acts as thickening for the gravy, so you adjust how much flour you have by adding enough oil to make a "rue" in a good quantity. Start out by adding a little oil and some flour to the cooking sausage, then add flour and oil until you have a bubbling paste. The third thing to know is; the flour must be browned or the gravy will continue to thicken after it is cooked and will have an uncooked taste. So as your flour and oil are cooking, stir constantly and have milk sitting close at hand. When the flour begins to brown, it will do so quickly, and the best time to add milk is just before it begins to burn. During the browning process is the time to add your salt and pepper. The hard truth is: You'll have to make it several times before you get it down. What a bummer to have gravy every morning for a while !! (Hint: If you mess it up, your doggie will love you for it.)

4 sausage patties, 3 tblsp oil, flour, salt, Watkins Black Pepper

In a 10 or 12 inch skillet on top of the stove, brown your sausage and mix in flour and oil to make a rue. Add salt and pepper as flour browns, and add milk, a little at first, then more as mixture thickens, to get desired consistency. Stir constantly and remove from heat when done. Let it cool a little, it's real hot !!

For a healthier version use veggie sausage and Watkins grapeseed oil.

Pancakes (Flapjacks !!)

2 cups flour, 2 tblsp sugar, 2 tsp Watkins baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups milk, 1/4 cup Watkins grapeseed oil, 2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients, then add milk, oil and eggs, whisk into a batter. Pour cakes onto a heated skillet treated with Watkins cooking spray. When edges of the cake begin to dry and bubbles burst on top, flip er' over and cook the other side. Make animal shapes for the kids, and make yourself a new Harley !! If your not into syrup. top them with strawberries in sauce, applebutter or peanut butter.

Did you know that Watkins baking powder has no aluminum? See all our healthy products, which also contain no MSG !! http://www.kbh57.com

Pie Crust

1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 cup shortening, 2 1/3 tblsp cold milk

Mix together the flour and salt, then cut in shortening with a pastry cutter, knife or your fingertips. The type of shortening you use will make a difference in your crust. Use a solid shortening, many cooks prefer Crisco. Make sure your milk is COLD, and add a little at a time, tossing dough with a fork at each addition. Press into a ball and roll out thin on floured counter. The more you work it, the tougher your crust will be when done. Place it in a pie pan, prick it with a fork. If you are making a pudding pie, bake the crust first. If making a fruit pie, add mixture to crust and bake together.

For pudding and frosting use Watkins dessert mix. Available in several excellent flavors. http://www.kbh57.com

Yeast Rolls

Yeast Rolls take practice and patience to master the art, but it's worth the effort.

1/2 cup scalded milk, 1/4 cup warm water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 egg, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cake yeast, 1 1/2 tblsp sugar, 2 tblsp shortening.

Dissolve sugar in warm water (not over 100 degrees) and add yeast. Beat egg and mix with milk, then add to yeast and water. Mix flour and salt, cut in shortening and mix in liquids. Knead on a floured counter until elastic, form a ball and let it rise 1-2 hours in a greased bowl, covered with a towel and in a warm area. Punch down, brush with butter and let it rise another 1-2 hours. Punch down again, knead lightly and pinch into small balls. Put balls on a greased cookie sheet or muffin tin, let rise till doubled in size, covered with a towel. Brush tops with butter and bake 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Quick Bread

If you are a little uneasy about making yeast rolls, just use Watkins Good Tastings Bread Mix. It comes in a foil pack, so it's ready to use when you are ready. Just pour mix in a bowl, add a 12 oz can of soda, stir it up and bake in a greased pan. Fresh bread in 50 minutes, and anyone can do it !! See it at http://www.kbh57.com

Fire Pepper Bread

Add these ingredients to Watkins Good Tastings bread mix for a spicy entree.

2 tsp Watkins Fire Pepper seasoning, 1 tsp Watkins Garlic Granules, 1 cup chopped red or green peppers, 2 cups grated cheddar cheese.

Drizzle with melted butter and serve warm.

Check out Watkins dip mixes, no MSG and cheaper to use than supercenter brands. Also dip your bread in Watkins flavored grapeseed oil; try garlic and parsley or citrus and cilantro. See them all at        http://www.kbh57.com