Shrimp+and+Grits

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a meal of shrimp, grits, or shrimp and grits. This lowcountry meal is a Christmas favorite but is good on a snowy day in Virginia, too. I might make this before Blizzard 10 is over. It is loaded with calories so this one doesn't get cooked very often.

Ingredients

 * 3/4 cup yellow grits (not the quick-cook kind)
 * 3 cups water(some folks use milk but they typically are not native southerners)
 * 2 strips of bacon
 * 2 tbs butter
 * 1 pound cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
 * 1/4 teaspoon salt
 * 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
 * 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
 * 1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
 * chopped sauteed onion optional- cook and stir in grits along with shrimp)

Directions Recipe 1: Preheat oven to 350. Bake shrimp and grits for 30 minutes.

 * 1) In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in the grits, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes or until grits have thickened. They will be somewhat creamy.If they get too thick- you can add a little water and cook down. It is important to stir since they can burn. (Also, remember to keep the handle of the pan turned inside. One of my classmates received severe burns as a child when her mother accidently hit the handle of the grits pan and grits spilled on my classmate.) Stir in 2 tbs of butter, a pinch of salt and a shake or two of pepper, add 3/4 cup of cheddar and 1 cup of jack cheese. then set aside.
 * 2) Meanwhile, cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat.
 * 3) Bring water to boil in medium sauce pan. Add shrimp in shells, and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until shrimp turn pink. Drain- shell and de-vein. Stir shrimp mixture into grits
 * 4) Pour shrimp and grits into lightly greased large casserole dish. Top with crumbled bacon and remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. Bake.


 * Directions: Recipe 2**

Just cook the grits per direction -omit everything except the butter, salt, and a little pepper. Serve and eat.


 * Directions: Recipe 3**

Just cook the shrimp per direction but add old bay seasoning. Serve hot- and let others do the shelling.