Shoplifted Cornstarch Gravy 1.07 Kiss and Tell

“You just had a desperate need for some cornstarch?” “Yes. I have very important thickening needs, thank you.”

Cornstarch Gravy

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of broth of your choice (I used beef, but you could chicken or even veggie)

• 2 tbsp of butter, softened

• ¼ cup whole milk or cream

• 2 tbsp cornstarch

• 1 tsp poultry seasoning

• ½ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. Pour broth into a medium saucepan and heat over medium high heat. Add in butter and stir until butter is fully melted. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 2 minutes. Then remove from heat.

2. While the broth is reaching a boil, mix together the milk or cream and cornstarch until fully incorporated. Using cream will give you an even thicker gravy.

3. After removing the broth from heat, whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Continue mixing until the gravy begins to thicken and there are no lumps.

4. Add in seasoning, salt, and pepper

5. Serve over mashed potatoes, your choice of meat, or whatever you like to eat with gravy

Thick and creamy cornstarch gravy

We have a super simple recipe today, but I had to make something with cornstarch for this episode because it is a truly iconic moment of Gilmore Girls. I’m sure for most of us fans, whenever we think of Rory’s relationship with Dean (at least the good parts of their relationship), we think of her shoplifting a box of cornstarch after her first kiss. I think one of my favorite character appearances in A Year in the Life was Dean in Fall. They wrote Dean’s scene with Rory so perfectly: a couple that’s stayed in touch over the course of their lives, but there’s no more drama with their relationship. And the perfect line when she holds up a box of cornstarch, and says, “Dean, cornstarch,” and he responds with, “pay for it this time.”

To me, that callback to 1.07 was a moment of the revival that made it worth it for me. Sometimes, I think about Rory’s life between season 7 and A Year in the Life (mostly to try to figure out where it all went wrong), and I can easily picture her whipping up a simple cornstarch gravy and fondly thinking of Dean as she whisks in the cornstarch years after their affair (we will get to my opinions on that later * le sigh *).

I enjoyed my gravy over potatoes with chicken and kale

Even though your Thanksgiving gravy needs are long gone, this gravy is so easy, you can make it any time of the year. It uses meat broth (or veggie if you want to make this a completely vegetarian gravy) instead of drippings, so while it might not be quite as flavorful as gravy made from drippings, it still makes a punch while being super simple. I whipped up some mashed potatoes, kale, and grilled chicken breast to have with this gravy which was the perfect warm, comfort food as we head into colder weather in Texas. Side note- I think the best way to season chicken is by using a spice blend inspired by Blue Apron. I haven’t ordered a Blue Apron in a while because their plastic packaging was just way out of hand and it’s been difficult to receive certain packages at my apartment during the pandemic. However, I did love any recipe that incorporated their Weeknight Hero Spice Blend. It’s equal parts onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dried parsley. I also like adding ground mustard to the mixture as well before rubbing it onto the chicken breast or any meat I’m grilling.

Let’s dive into the episode, shall we? There is a lot of relationship-building within this episode, and I’m not just talking about Rory and Dean. Lorelai and Rory hit a bump in their relationship when Lorelai finds out about Rory’s first kiss from Mrs. Kim. Rory claims she didn’t tell Lorelai because the last time they talked about boys- specifically Dean- they ended up in a fight. I don’t know if I fully buy Rory not telling Lorelai about the kiss, at least in the first season. They tell each other everything. Although, this does create good conflict for them and sets the stage for future conflict in other seasons aka the controversial dropping out of Yale. I do like how this episode is basically set in two parts: Lorelai trying to get Rory to tell her about the kiss and Dean coming over for one of their movie nights.

Ah first season Dean, my how we come to miss you later on. They wrote Dean so well during the first season, and it’s frustrating that they basically turn him into a jealous, naggy wet mop by season two to help Jess stand out as a love interest. I feel as though Amy basically forces fans into liking Jess when he first arrives because they paint Dean so poorly after he starts out on the show as a much more dynamic character. We will get to my feelings on Jess when he arrives in season two, but let’s just say that they are complicated and change with different re-watchings. But back to Dean, they made him a good match for Rory in the first season. Just in this episode alone, his comment of Gene Wilder being in Willy Wonka is a good clue of how his personality matches with Rory’s.

I’d say my favorite scene in this episode is when Rory is having her outfit crisis and Lorelai swoops in with the perfect outfit. Their banter in this scene is what I like to call “so perfectly Gilmore.” The hair twirl, Lorelai’s quip of leaving men amazed because she’s just stolen their wallet, and the classic line, “wear your hair down and your attitude high,” all of it is just why I absolutely adore this show.

In personal Gilmore Girls news, I leveled up in the fandom. On Monday evening, I was surprised by two good friends on zoom with some cameos from cast members to congratulate me on graduating with my master’s degree. Sean Gunn was first, and he gave me sage advice of never ninja-kicking someone before you tell them you love them and whimsy goes with everything. He also reminded me that cows never wrinkle. There was also Yanic Truesdale who said (what might be my all-time favorite Gilmore Girls quote) “people are particularly stupid.” Always accurate and always a mood. I loved it so much. It was such a fun and thoughtful gift, and it made celebrating a graduation in a pandemic a little more special.

Happy Cooking!

If you missed what I made last episode, catch up here!