Basic Old Fashioned Grits Food

OLD CHARLESTON STYLE SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• Bring water, grits, and salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan with a lid. Stir in half-and-half and simmer until grits are thickened and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
• Sprinkle shrimp with salt and cayenne pepper; drizzle with lemon juice. Set aside in a bowl.
• Place andouille sausage slices in a large skillet over medium heat; fry sausage until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Retain bacon drippings in skillet. Transfer bacon slices to paper towels, let cool, and crumble.
• Cook and stir green, red, and yellow bell peppers, onion, and garlic in the bacon drippings until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Stir shrimp and cooked vegetables into the andouille sausage and mix to combine.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour to make a smooth paste. Turn heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is medium brown in color, 8 to 10 minutes. Watch carefully, mixture burns easily.
• Pour the butter-flour mixture into the skillet with andouille sausage, shrimp, and vegetables. Place the skillet over medium heat and pour in chicken broth, bacon and Worcestershire sauce, cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens and the shrimp become opaque and bright pink, about 8 minutes.
• Just before serving, mix sharp Cheddar cheese into grits until melted and grits are creamy and light yellow. Serve shrimp mixture over cheese grits.

OLD FASHIONED CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the cornmeal and stir until well mixed.
• In a second bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and honey or maple syrup.
• Melt the butter and add it to our second bowl, mixing well.
• Combine the dry and liquid ingredients and mix well.
• Pour the batter into an oiled 8in square baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until done in the centre and lightly browned.
• To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the centre; If it comes out dry, the corn bread is done.

OLD FASHIONED, TO-DIE-FOR CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• Cook grits according to package directions.
• Stir in butter and cheddar cheese, cut into cubes.
• Crack 2 eggs into measuring cup, and fill measuring cup up to the 1 cup line with milk (scant). Stir. Add generous amounts of garlic powder.
• Add milk/egg mixture to grits/cheese/butter mixture. Stir well.
• Pour prepared mixture into 8x8 (brownie size) pan.
• Bake at 350 F for 60 minutes.
• ENJOY! They taste even better the next day. Refrigerate leftovers.

OLD FASHIONED SLOW COOKED GRITS BY MICROWAVE

Steps:

• Place grits in a small bowl.
• Cover with water.
• Stir well to allow chaff to float to the surface.
• Slowly pour off water to drain off chaff.
• Repeat, drain well.
• Place cleaned grits in a 2-quart casserole dish with 5 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt;
• mix well.
• DO NOT COVER DISH!
• Place dish in microwave set on high.
• Cook for 15 minute.
• Remove, stir well.
• Repeat previous step.
• Repeat previous step again.
• Remove.
• Stir in butter until melted and grits are smooth and creamy.

BASIC OLD-FASHIONED GRITS

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Gradually add the grits, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until tender, about 20 minutes. If the grits seem too thick, thin with water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time.
• Stir in the butter and season with pepper. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.