Friday, June 5, 2009

Grits, Grits, Grits - The More Times I Say The Word, The Weirder It Sounds

A while back, further back than I want to say, I won a fabulous prize from the fabulous Lula. The package of goodies included fun springy dishtowels, piggy paint (that's toenail polish), a Hello Kitty clip board, adorable ribbon hair clips for Sophie, yummy peanut M & M's AND a $25 gift card for Target! How freaking awesome is all that?
















But wait, there's more! The best part was a Paula Deen Cookbook! I must confess a love for Miss Paula. I love her accent (which, btw, is how I imagine Lula sounds), I love that she cooks in full bling (the woman never wears less than 10 carats) and she never met a stick of butter she didn't like (a woman after my own butter-lovin' heart). So when I got the cookbook, I was very excited to delve into all of the tasty goodness.

One of the things I really like about Paula's recipes is that they are very accessible. I typically have most of the ingredients on hand, but if I don't they're not unusual stuff, so it's not the kind of thing where I have to buy a whole bunch, bottle or whatever only to use a pinch and the rest either goes bad or languishes in my spice cabinet never to be used again. I have made a number of recipes from the book and each time we have really enjoyed it. There was one recipe that I kept stopping on and then passing by, though, because I felt some trepidation at attempting.

Because I have a confession.

I have never made grits before. Now, I was born in Georgia, yes that's right folks, I'm a peach, but we left when I was four, so I wasn't raised on the stuff. In Kansas, where I grew up, you can get it, but it's not a staple. I guess that's probably true of Maryland, where I currently live, as well. Neil had never even tried them. I know, GASP!

So after months of looking at the tantalizing picture, temptation finally won out over fear and tonight, for the first time, I made grits. More specifically, I made Shrimp and Cheese Grits*. (Her website does not have this recipe listed, so I've linked to another site that shows it.)

Simple ingredients:
Grits
Shrimp
Butter**
Cheddar Cheese
Bacon
Garlic
Lemon Juice
Parsley
Salt and Pepper



Basically, you cook the grits (why was I so afraid of this, it was easy!) and then mix in the cheese and butter. Meanwhile, you fry up the bacon, remove it, and cook the shrimp in the bacon grease (um, YUM!). Throw the lemon juice, garlic and parsley into the shrimp. Scoop shrimp mixture over grits and garnish with crumbled bacon. Easy peasy, y'all.
















And let me tell you: it. was. so. good. At first, Neil said, "hmm, it's different." But after a couple of bites, he was won over by it's bacony, cheesy, buttery deliciousness. As he was wiping his plate clean, he said, "I would eat that again. And again! And again!"
















So a big, giant (and much belated) thank you to Lula for all of the wonderful stuff. A whole new, grits-making world has been opened up to me.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

*Thanks to this one dish, I will be spending the next three days on the elliptical. It is not for the faint at heart.

**I am so irritated that I didn't notice the butter was upside down when I was staging that picture. Now, it's ALL I can see.

25 comments:

  1. Great, now I'm gonna be saying that line "Kiss M' Grits" from that old show, 'Alice'. Thanks a lot Cara, lol!

    Looks GREAAAAAAAAT! Mmmmm. (although I've never had grits before) Great prize you won! Sweet! and soooooo funny when you said..."but wait..there's more". lol Have a great weekend!

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  2. Oh, see, I didn't even notice the butter. Isn't Paula (and Lula) the best??? I make her stuff as often as my arteries can stand it and her recipes are always amazing!

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  3. I have to admit I've NEVER had grits. And honestly, there's just something about the word--grits--that seems unappetizing. BUT that recipe looks WAY easy and I'm thinking if you add cheese, butter and bacon to just about anything it's gonna be good...! =)

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  4. Hey Cara~ Did you notice the butter is upside down??

    Just saying ((hehe))

    I love grits for breakfast with brown sugar and butter, but I have never had them otherwise. Just never really had the chance I guess. Hmmm...Sounds Kinda good? Maybe I will have to try!

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  5. Um, yum.

    I love me some Paula Deen. Bacon, butter and cheese? How can you go wrong?

    (Let it go about the upside down butter; it's all good!)

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  6. Honestly, I can't believe you put the butter upside down, I mean, really? I sat here and looked at that picture, shaking my head in disbelief. (Just teasing! Didn't notice til you pointed it out!)

    I looooove grits. No one in Canada eats them though. I should totally like order some online :P

    I'd eat that meal like crazy. Chris wouldn't, but more for me!

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  7. You're so cute, OMG! Being a Candian who only briefly lived in the US - (Bethesda, MD, baby!) I don't even know what Grits are! I know, the horrow... are they like, hash browns? Like, potatoes thingies? Or am I totally off?

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  8. Shrimp and grits is just the best. I make a sausage, grits and cheese casserole that is a favorite here. Devine!

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  9. I'm sure we had Paula shrimp and grits on Tuesday night. I'm sure I praised God for Paula while eating said shrimp and grits. Because they are divine.

    As is she.

    As are you.

    p.s. Her accent is WAY thicker than mine. She's from south Georgia--Albany. And we say it as "All-benny." True story.

    p.p.s. Is that not the best cookbook? Seriousy, I use it all the time. I'm particularly partial to the game day menu...because she tells all about the fundamentals of UGA tailgating. She is so my people. Come on...pimento cheese, Bloody Marys, and Georgia Bulldog football? Pure bliss, I tell ya.

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  10. My second favorite cake is by Paula Deen - 1234 cake with the "coconut" variation. Very simple. Skip the frosting, as it is not needed.

    BTW my first favorite cake is a white wine cake I had at my cousin's wedding. Can't find a recipe...

    and and additional PS - my birthday is next week, in case you were wondering ha ha!

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  11. I adore Paula. Some of her recipes are regulars in my house.

    And I am a HUGE fan of grits. I may have to try this one out.

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  12. I love Paula! Love her food, love her.

    My waistline, however, thinks she is an evil butter-slathered demon.

    I can't eat any of her dishes anymore.

    Well, I take that back. I could have probably had a bite of shrimp and A grit.

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  13. Mmm... now I'm hungry!

    It's good that the butter was upside down because that made it's perfect staged-ness look natural (but still perfect). ;)

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  14. Girl you make me proud to be southern!

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  15. Oh my goodness that sounds delicious, and something worth losing sleep over ;)

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  16. I have no clue what grits are but they sound lovely and look ooey gooey and full of butter!

    Off to google grits.

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  17. I would have never noticed the butter! LOL

    Sounds A-MAZING! Never had grits but this recipe has me wanting to try 'em!

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  18. Never made grits ever either and that is only the tippy tip of the iceberg

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  19. I've never made grits myself. I've sampled them before, but did not love them. There must not have been enough butter in them.

    The shrimp and grits looks awesome. Oh Paula.

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  20. I always picture the waitress from that late 70's sitcom (Alice?) saying "Kiss mah Grits!" and then I cannot imagine eating them...

    Grits sounds dirty. Like gizzards or grease...

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  21. Oh that sounds so good. I have a fear of cooking grits too but it sounds like I don't need to.

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  22. Steve LOVES grits! I will have to try this recipe for sure. Quick, easy and tasty!

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  23. Dang. I don't eat bacon or shrimp, but I love me some cheese grits, and this dish looks YUM!

    Did you ever see the movie My Cousin Vinny? "What is a grit?"

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  24. First of all, how in the heck did I get so far behind in reading your posts?! Crap.

    "Yankee by birth, Southerner by choice" I am... but I cannot stand grits! My sister, however, could eat 'em every day.

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Give me some sugar, baby!