Shrimp & Grits

Oh, sweet tea and grits… this is my ode to thee. I still remember the time I tried thee both. Oh, sweet tea and grits you love thee so if you’ve spent any substantial time in The South then you know these two go hand in hand. Tea is sipped as soon as a bottle can be held and perfectin’ the perfect pot of grits is a rite of passage; One not to be takin’ lightly.

I’ve spent much of my life lustin’ after the two. As a kid only two things were a guarantee; Church on Sunday and grits for breakfast. No matter how you sliced it Daddy was always makin’ a pot of grits. Even if we would turn or noses up and complain, “AGAIN!”

Much of my adult life has turned into how I could perfect pot after pot of grits. Have em’ creamy enough to make your Grandma holler but not so much that they lost their Southern appeal. I’d prided myself on the fact that I reckoned I could make a pot of grits better than the next Texan. After all they were Texans. My family went back many Deep Southern generations.

 I still remember the last time I tried my hand at Shrimp and Grits. I convinced Momma to throw a brunch bridal shower for one of my bestfriends. Any and everything was on the menu and I was determined to impress. After an hour of near tears and grits everywhere to high heavens I admitted defeat with tears in my eyes and burns on my hands. Paula Dean would be so ashamed.

I was down but I wasn’t out. My Southerness would not be revoked. A family reunion came and cousin Gerald walked over with a twinkle in his eye and goes:

“Hello Ms. Grits… you make good grits?”
“ I like to think I do,” I respond as I tell him how my grits are made.
He smiles again and responds, “The secret to real creamy grits is equal parts to equal parts to 3 parts. 1 cream to 3 parts water with some butter and salt.”
“Pause I tell him”… “You put cream and half and half in your grits?”

“Yes ma’am and do you know why you always have your whisk ready?”

“No sir”, Now, I ‘m really listenin’.

“So they cook evenly and have a good consistency”, he finishes.

I set to work ready to adapt this recipe…

 

Ingredients: 1 lemon 1 cup of shrimp 1 cup of quick cooking grits 1 cup of half/half 1 cup of heavy creme 1 cup of chicken broth 2 cups of water 1 tablespoon Olive Oil 4 tablespoons of hot sauce red pepper, salt, oregano 4 tablespoons of butter

Directions: Grits 1. Bring 2 cups of water and a cup of chicken broth to a boil. 2. Once boilin' stir in the grits.  3  After they have cooked for a min stir in the heavy cream and  to half and half. Turn down the heat and let them simmer until they thicken. 4. Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter and a pinch of salt and your grits are ready to go. Shrimp 1. I use a cast iron but you may use whatever pan works best for you. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 juice of a lemon, the hot sauce, red pepper and oregano.  2. Ingredients should begin to make a small sauce. 3. Toss in shrimp and cook a few minutes on each side until they are pink and done. 4. Serve over grits and enjoy.

Next to Jesus if it has Texas sweet tea or Grits in it y’all already know my whole life is down. My entire life, y’all and probably why this necklace from Heidi J Hale is my favorite. I had them engrave the sweet tea and grits in it and it came out fabulous if I do say so myself. It only leaves my neck to sleep and shower.

The bangle bracelet you see me sportin’ as I cook has longitude and latitude coordinates. The coordinated represent where my heart is. Nacogdoches Texas, also known as the oldest town in Texas and where I went to college.

But, what I’ve come to appreciate most as of late besides a good bowl of grits is supportin’ small business. I read recently that when you shop small business 80% of your dollar stays locals compared to the 20 percent when you don’t. Y’all thats enough incentive for me to support some lovely artesian ladies that are makin’ handmade jewelry usin’ only precious metals and natural gemstones.

I love y'all so much it's giveaway time. Heidi J Hale makes the cutest 'Say it on a Ring' rings and i'mm give y'all the chance to win a set. Click here for the details and to enter.

And before I go I just gotta know... sugar or salt in your grits?