I think Grits must be one of the most under appreciated foods there is. Until recently even I lacked appreciation for them. Thinking of them only as a breakfast food you serve with cheese and butter and they didn't have any other purpose. But they are so much more. I only recently fell in love with grits. I remember it well...
Michael was talking about loving shrimp, and well I love shrimp too. I don't have them nearly often enough because of financial reason and how many mouths we feed, but they are a favorite of mine, so when Bilo had them on sale Buy One Get one, I jumped on them. Not sure what I would do with them, but pinterest is never short of ideas so I knew I'd figure something out.
So that's when I found a recipe for shrimp and cheese grits. The grits were plain, just cheesy grits... Which are awesome. No complaints about a good ol' bowl of cheesy grits... But then... Inspiration happened.. I had some spinach, Spinach is one of those things you can add to anything to add a pop of color, because as I mentioned it has to be kinda pretty for my picky eaters to even get near it. So Cheesy spinach grits with shrimp and bacon became a thing..
Well we enjoyed that so much we had grits for dinner a second time. This time with red pepper flakes, garlic, and cream cheese. Also awesome. Ill be posting that recipe soon too but here is a picture to get you salivating in the meantime.. This was a fun meal.. When breakfast rebels and decides to put on its dinner attire. This was sausage balls, deviled eggs, and peppery cheesy grits. Isn't it all so breakfasty, yet so dinnery too?
I have so many ideas for grits now, and am kicking myself for not playing with this blank canvas sooner.
While we are on the subject of grits I thought you might enjoy this link that explains the difference in grits, polenta, and corn meal
Some add-in ideas I have for cheese grits
Because all grits need cheese
1. jalapenos and cream cheese and cheddar
2. Rotel and cheese
3. bacon eggs and cheese
4. cinnamon and sugar (without cheese)
5. franks red hot and ranch
6. corn and bacon and ranch powder
7. chili powder and diced peppers
8. tomato and bacon
9. sausage and egg
10. broccoli and cheese
11. ham
12. bacon
13. chilis, diced peppers, and corn
14. chocolate butter and milk (no cheese)
15. Rosemary and onion powder
So many ideas to try.. watch for them to be posted soon.
On a final note here is a recipe for the perfect plain grits and you can add whatever add-is you would like to the recipe.
Basic grits recipe with cream cheese
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups stone ground grits
salt to taste
1/2 block cream cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups stone ground grits
salt to taste
1/2 block cream cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons butter
Bring liquid ingredients to a boil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add salt and gradually whisk in grits
Reduce heat to maintain a low boil and cook 30 minutes, stirring frequently with a whisk to prevent clumps or sticking
If grits get too thick, you can add a little more water. Once cooked, stir in cream cheese and butter.
Now I leave you, hopefully inspired and ready to experiment with grits. I would love to hear your grits ideas and recipes. Please share in comments if you have a fabulous grits recipe.
Those are some good mix in ideas! Never thought of doing these! I'm a grits fan too! Only other thing I can suggest is garlic. I've done garlic and cheese with parmesan and cheddar. Pretty good.
ReplyDeletewe had all that in our shrimp and grits that night.. at waffle house I always get tomatoes and ham and cheese in mine
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