After the lst couple of days we’ve had I didn’t even want to think about Supper but I knew we would need to eat because when I get hangry I get crancky. I wanted to fix something David likes and would enjoy. I decided to make a family favorite or at least it is for David and I.
I decided I would make SOS: which is something David enjoys and can eat without his tooth hurting. For me this is one of my family favorites because it isn’t fancy. Like the recipes we save for holidays, special occasions, or when we want to impress someone.
This is the recipe that became a family favorite because it is dependable, economical and a pan makes leftovers and helps stretch our grocery budget. SOS will fill hungry bellies, and remind us of the people who taught us how to make them which for me was my dad.
Now, depending on where you grew up, you may know it by a different name. Some people call it “Sh*t on a Shingle,” and others simply know it as hamburger and cream gravy served over toast. Some families use hamburger meat, some use sausage, some add onions, and some keep it simple. That is the beauty of family recipes. You start with the basics, and then you make it your own.
My dad and my Uncle learned about SOS through there military connections, and it became something that stayed with our family. It was one of those meals that was simple, filling, and affordable. It was the kind of meal that helped families make it through busy seasons and tight grocery budgets.
David’s dad was also in the service, so this was a meal his family grew up eating too. It is funny how life works sometimes. Two families, two different journeys, and somehow the same simple recipe becomes part of both of our stories although Granny uses Onions in hers.
My Uncle Chuck was in the service as well, so military traditions and memories have always been a part of our family. Suzanne even dreamed of joining the military one day and working in the kitchen. Although her life took a different path, I know this was a meal she would have known because I made it while she was growing up.
That is one of the things I love about recipes. They carry memories with them. They remind us of people who sat around our tables. They remind us of conversations, laughter, and the seasons of life we walked through together. Charlie grew up eating SOS too. It is another little piece of our family history that has been passed down.
Of course, not everyone is as excited about it as I am. My brother still kind of shudders when I tell him we are having SOS for dinner. He has made it very clear that once a month is probably enough. But honestly, when you are trying to feed a family on a budget, having a meal that everyone can agree to once in a while is a blessing.
And that is what makes recipes like this so special. They are not always about being fancy. They are about being practical. They are about knowing you can open your pantry and make something warm for your family. They are about remembering that some of the best meals are the ones that come with a story.
The other night, I was making SOS and had one of those real-life cooking moments that so many families can relate to. I opened the cabinet looking for my seasonings and realized we were out of almost everything.
No Kinder’s The Blend. No Lawry’s. No garlic salt. No, Gravy Mixes. And we were even out of Milo’s Sweet Tea. Then there was the question of who is going to peel the Potato’s and should they be fried or mashed? Well, heck we don’t have Potato’s let’s do instant. Opp’s out of them and Bread to.
For a moment, I just laughed because that is real life. Sometimes things do not go according to plan. Sometimes you have to get creative. Sometimes you have to make a quick trip to the store or look through a family member’s spice cabinet and figure things out.
But somehow, dinner still comes together. That is what families do. We adjust. We make things work. We take the ingredients we have and create something meaningful. SOS may not be the fanciest meal you will ever serve, but for our family, it represents so much more than hamburger and gravy.
It represents my dad. It represents military families. It represents David’s dad. It represents the dreams Suzanne carried in her heart. It represents Charlie growing up around our kitchen table. And it represents the reminder that even simple meals can become treasured memories.
So the next time you are looking for an affordable dinner idea, remember that some of the best recipes are not found in expensive cookbooks. They are found in the stories our families pass down. And sometimes, they are found on a piece of toast with a little cream gravy poured over the top.
SOS Family Recipe
A Pinch, a Smidgen, and a Whole Lot of Lovin’
Family Story
Every family has recipes that are more than just food. They are memories passed down through generations.
This recipe reminds our family of the people who taught us, the tables we gathered around, and the love that went into every meal.
Ingredients
☐ Ground beef: ____________ pounds
☐ Cream gravy mix OR homemade cream gravy
☐ Water or milk for gravy
☐ Optional onions
☐ Toast, bread, mashed potatoes, or fried potatoes for serving
Directions
1. Brown hamburger meat until cooked through.
2. Prepare cream gravy using a mix or homemade gravy.
3. Combine meat and gravy together.
4. Serve over toast, mashed potatoes, or your favorite family side.
How Our Family Makes SOS
Family Memories Around The Table
Recipes That Tell Our Story
Family Recipe Keepsake
Recipe Name
Who Taught Me This Recipe?
The Story Behind This Recipe
Why is this recipe special to your family?
Memories Made Around The Table
Who I Hope Receives This Recipe Someday
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
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