Smothered Grouse Food

SMOTHERED CHICKEN AND GRAVY (MAKEOVER)

Steps:

• Cook rice in 2 2/3 cups water as directed on package, omitting butter and salt; keep warm.
• In 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix flour, seasoned salt, thyme, paprika and pepper. Fill medium bowl with water. Dip chicken pieces in water; shake to remove excess water. Place half of chicken pieces at a time in bag with flour mixture; shake to coat all sides. Remove chicken; reserve remaining flour mixture in bag.
• In deep 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.
• In same skillet, stir reserved flour mixture into drippings; cook about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture is light brown. Stir in celery, bell pepper and onion. Cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Stir in 2 cups hot water until well blended. Return chicken to skillet. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 40 to 50 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest piece is cut to bone (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and drumsticks). Serve over rice; sprinkle with parsley.

SOUTHERN SMOTHERED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon from skillet and drain on a plate lined with paper towels; reserve bacon grease in the skillet. Crumble bacon into a bowl when cool and set aside.
• Add onion, celery, and red bell pepper to the bacon grease in the skillet. Cook over medium heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add cayenne, parsley, mustard, and black pepper and cook 2 minutes. Add cabbage; cover and cook 10 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to high, and cook, stirring often, until cabbage is wilted and tender, about 10 additional minutes.
• Add apple cider vinegar and reserved crumbled bacon to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

SMOTHERED PHEASANT OR GROUSE

Steps:

• Skin, wash, and quarter your pheasant or grouse.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Mix the flour and salt in a brown paper bag. Shake the meat pieces in the bag 2 at a time until coated.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Sauté the celery and onion until tender. Place them in a shallow baking pan.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Add the floured meat pieces and brown.
• Remove the browned meat to the baking pan. Add the boiling water and cover with wax paper.
• Bake for 1 hour or until the meat is tender.
• Serve at once.

SMOTHERED GROUSE

Steps:

• Saute cleaned grouse breasts in wine or broth, butter and spices.
• As this begins heating, add mushrooms and onions.
• Grouse will cook fast. Cook grouse and vegetables no loner than 3-4 minutes.
• When grouse and vegetables are done put grouse in small baking pan or cookie sheet and top with vegetable and cheese.
• Heat in oven until cheese melts and serve with any side dish like rice, stuffing, potatoes, noodles, etc.

SMOTHERED ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP OVER CREAMY STONE GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• In a saute pan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for 4 to 6 minutes for a medium brown roux, about the color of peanut butter. Add the onions, peppers, and celery. Season with salt and cayenne. Continue cooking until the vegetables are wilted, about 8 minutes. Add the sausage and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and cayenne. Add the shrimp. Stir in the clam juice and cream. Bring the liquid to a simmer and continue to cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the green onions. To serve, spoon the grits in the center of each serving bowl. Spoon the shrimp mixture over the grits. Garnish with parsley.
• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, combine the water, milk, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Stir in the grits. Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. (The grits will stick to the bottom of the pan, so make sure not to scrape the bottom of the pan. If the grits absorbed all of the water, add some hot water to thin out.) Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cheese. The grits can either be served immediately or prepared in advance and reheated.
• If preparing in advance, grease a pan with a teaspoon of butter. Pour the grits into the pan and reheat in a 400 degree F for 15 minutes.

SMOTHERED GREENS

Steps:

• Heat oil or butter in a wide braising pan or casserole. Add onion and garlic and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring and being careful not to get too much color on the onions. Add the greens (be sure to wash carefully as they have a tendency to be gritty) and stir. Cover for about 5 minutes to wilt, then cook over medium low heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or until greens are tender and not bitter. Sprinkle with the vinegar, season with salt and pepper, stir, and remove from heat. Serve warm.