Country Ham Red Eye Gravy

Purportedly Andrew Jackson once told a hung-over cook to prepare him a plate of ham and gravy “as red as your eyes.”

1 tablespoon bacon grease or unsalted butter
4 cooked thick-cut country ham slices
1½ cups strong brewed coffee
1½ teaspoons dark brown sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Melt the bacon grease in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Fry the ham slices for 3 to 4 minutes per side until hot.  Remove the ham and keep warm.

Reserve 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat in the skillet. Add the coffee and brown sugar, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half. The gravy will be thin. Season with salt and pepper to taste, but keep in mind the country Ham is salty. Serve with ham slices and warm biscuits.