Baked Grits With Parmesan Sauce Mushrooms And Ham Food

MUSHROOM GRITS QUICHE

Steps:

• For the quiche: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put a 10-inch square baking dish on a baking sheet, brush the bottom and sides with the butter and sprinkle with the toasted cornmeal.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a large skillet over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, about 1 minute, then add the garlic and cook, stirring, another minute. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally and adding up to 1 tablespoon more of oil if necessary, until lightly golden brown and their liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add the wine and cook until almost all of the liquid is gone, about 1 minute. Remove to a plate and cool.
• Bring the milk and 3 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring to a boil, stirring. Cook the grits, stirring occasionally, until thickened and slightly soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Asiago and half the Cheddar and some salt and pepper.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in a small amount of the grits mixture to warm the eggs, Whisk in the rest of the grits mixture and then fold in the mushrooms. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining Cheddar. Bake the quiche until it is just set and the cheese is bubbling, about 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
• For the pesto: Combine the kale, Parmesan, walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper and a splash of the olive oil in a food processor and pulse several times to coarsely chop. With the motor running, add the remaining oil until the pesto is thick and creamy. Stir in the lemon zest and season with some salt and pepper. If too thick, add a few tablespoons of cold water.
• To serve: Spoon the quiche into shallow bowls. Spoon some of the kale pesto on top and drizzle with olive oil. Serve warm with the hot sauce.

BAKED GRITS WITH HAM, WILD MUSHROOMS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Bring 43/4 cups water and salt to boil in heavy medium pot. Add corn grits to boiling water in thin steady stream, stirring constantly. Reduce temperature and simmer grits until thick, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Pour cooked grits into large mixing bowl. Whisk in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, grated cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons butter. Season grits to taste with pepper. Whisk in egg. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Place dish in large roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with enough hot water to come halfway up sides of baking dish. Bake until grits are firm to touch, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add assorted mushrooms, ham and minced shallot and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes. Add white wine and cook until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add whipping cream and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in fresh thyme. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon baked corn grits onto plates. Top with mushroom and ham mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

BAKED GRITS WITH HAM, WILD MUSHROOMS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Bring 4 3/4 cups water and salt to boil in heavy medium pot.
• Add corn grits to boiling water in thin steady stream, stirring constantly.
• Reduce temperature and simmer grits until thick, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
• Pour cooked grits into large mixing bowl.
• Whisk in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, grated cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons butter.
• Season grits to taste with pepper.
• Whisk in egg.
• Transfer to prepared baking dish.
• Place dish in large roasting pan.
• Fill roasting pan with enough hot water to come halfway up sides of baking dish.
• Bake until grits are firm to touch, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add assorted mushrooms, ham and minced shallot and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes.
• Add white wine and cook until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Add whipping cream and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in fresh thyme.
• Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon baked corn grits onto plates.
• Top with mushroom and ham mixture.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2cup grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
• *Corngrits, also known as polenta, are available at Italian markets, natural foods stores and some supermarkets.
• If unavailable, substitute 1 cup regular yellow cornmeal, and simmer about 10 minutes.

CREAMY GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Make the grits: Cook the grits with water according to the package instructions in a large, heavy-bottomed pot, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed to ensure no grits stick to the pot. The cook time can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the age and quality of the grits. When the grits are tender, remove from the hot burner and pour in the oat cream, oil and salt, stir well, and cover. (If you cooked the grits with salt, then start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste.) Set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium. Once heated, add the onion quarter, jalapeño and garlic cloves. Char and slightly cook the vegetables, turning occasionally. The garlic will likely be done first, after 4 or 6 minutes. Place each item in a bowl when charred and cover with a lid.
• When the charred vegetables are cool to the touch, remove the outer skin of the onion, the jalapeño stem and the garlic peels. If you are very sensitive to spice, slice the jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove one half's seeds and white veins to make it much milder.
• In a blender or mini food processor, blend the onion, jalapeño and garlic with the lemon juice, olive oil and cilantro until smooth. Add more olive oil if needed to blend, 1 tablespoon at a time. Clean the mushrooms with a damp towel and break apart or cut at the stem into 2-inch pieces. Place the mushrooms in a bowl and pour the jalapeño sauce on top; let sit for at least 15 minutes.
• Make the chard: Place the chard shiny side down on a cutting board and slice the stems and ribs away from the green leaves. Stack the leaves in a pile and cut crosswise into thin strips. Transfer to a bowl, toss with 2 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the chard stems into 2-inch-long matchsticks. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the jalapeño, vinegar, garlic, onion and sugar, and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chard stems and let sit, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes.
• Heat a medium cast-iron skillet over medium, add the chard leaves and cook, using tongs to move them around quickly in order to keep their bright green color, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Set over medium-high heat. Shake excess sauce off the mushrooms back into the bowl; too much sauce will cause them to steam instead of sear. Add the mushrooms to the hot oil, and cook until tender and caramelized, 2 to 5 minutes per side.
• To serve, spoon the grits onto a large platter and top with the chard, mushrooms and pickled stems.

SHEET-PAN MUSHROOM PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange the cherry tomatoes on a sheet pan, along with half the garlic, and drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and toss to coat the tomatoes.
• To the sheet pan, add the mushroom caps in between the tomatoes, gill side up, and drizzle each generously with olive oil. (Don't skimp here, as the olive oil will add lots of rich flavor.) Scatter the mushrooms with the remaining garlic, and season each mushroom with salt and black pepper. Fill each mushroom with marinara sauce, and top with cheese. Place in the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly and golden.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and add the bread crumbs, basil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. Remove from heat immediately and transfer to a bowl or jar.
• To serve, transfer mushrooms to serving plates, along with a few of the roasted cherry tomatoes. Top each mushroom with the basil bread crumbs and scatter with a few basil leaves.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the water and milk to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Slowly add the grits, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring often, until the grits are creamy and thick, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Line a plate with paper towels. While the grits are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook until lightly browned and some of the fat has rendered, about 3 minutes. Remove the ham from the skillet to the prepared plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• In the same skillet, using the oil left in the pan, add the mushrooms, season with freshly ground pepper, and saute, stirring, until barely tender, about 2 minutes. (No salt is needed, as the salt from the ham has flavored the cooking oil.) Add the wine and cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender, about 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the grits from the heat; whisk in the cheese, parsley, and butter. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. To serve, place a dollop of grits on individual serving plates. Spoon over the sauteed mushrooms and top with the country ham. Serve immediately.

CREAMY HAM & MUSHROOM PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to pack instructions, then drain. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6, then melt a little butter in a large saucepan. Fry the mushrooms for a couple of mins, then scoop out and set aside. Use some kitchen paper to wipe out the pan.
• Melt the remaining butter in the pan, then add most of the onions and soften for 1 min. Stir in the flour for another min, then gradually stir in the milk until you have a lump-free sauce. Increase the heat and bubble the sauce, stirring for a few mins to thicken. Turn off the heat, stir in the ham and most of the cheese, then season to taste.
• Tip the pasta and mushrooms into a large ovenproof dish, then pour over the sauce and mix well in the dish. Scatter over the remaining cheese and spring onions, then bake for 10 mins until golden.