Best Grits And Greens Recipes

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the half-and-half and 6 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once up to a boil, stir in the grits. Bring it back up to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture has slightly thickened (it should resemble cooked oatmeal in thickness), 10 to 15 minutes. Use a whisk to break up any lumps that have formed.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until just turning crispy, about 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel, patting it to remove any excess fat. Using the same saucepan, add the onions to the leftover bacon drippings and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the collard greens and the remaining 2 cups chicken stock and cook until tender, another 10 minutes. Drain the collards and onions in a colander.
• Once the grits are done, add the Parmesan, butter, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the Monterey jack. Stir until the butter has melted and all the ingredients are well combined. Then add the drained collards mixture and stir.
• Transfer the grits mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the crumbled bacon and the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey jack. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

CREAMY GRITS WITH TOMATO GRAVY AND GREENS

Steps:

• For the grits: Bring the milk and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the grits, stirring with a fork to prevent any lumps from forming. Once the grits have started to thicken, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• For the tomato gravy: Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the grape tomatoes, sugar and garlic and cook until the tomatoes start to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter; let melt. Stir in flour and cook until starting to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth, tomato paste, salt and pepper until smooth. Continue cooking until the mixture comes to a boil; it will thicken as it heats. When thick like a gravy, remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Serve the warm grits in shallow bowls, topped with tomato gravy and collard greens.
• Prepare the collards for cooking by cutting the large stems from the center of the leaves. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips
• Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the raw collards (the leaves can be pushed down tightly and will wilt to about one-quarter volume as they cook). Add the ham hock or pork and bring the water to a boil. Add the collards and toss with tongs until the water returns to a boil and the leaves wilt down into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, or until tender. Stir occasionally, checking to be sure there is enough liquid to prevent scorching. Taste the liquid and add salt if needed. Serve with buttermilk cornbread and hot sauce.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BIRDS IN A NEST WITH BUTTER GRITS, GREENS WITH BACON, OVER-EASY QUAIL EGGS AND GREEN TOMATO AND GREEN APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the chutney: Combine the green tomatoes, brown sugar, cider vinegar, curry powder, mustard seeds, fennel pollen, allspice, ginger, apple and red onion in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Taste and thin with chicken stock as desired. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
• For the greens and bacon: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the chard and beet greens and let wilt for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with vinegar, then add the sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of hot sauce. Add some of the bacon back to the pan, and combine. Use the remaining bacon as garnish.
• For the butter grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a boil. Add the grits and bring to a simmer. Stir, then partially cover, and cook, whisking occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/2 cup milk, whisk and partially cover. Cook, whisking occasionally, for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cook partially covered, whisking occasionally, another 15 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoon butter and season to taste with salt. Use additional stock to adjust the consistency as needed. Serve the grits with the quail eggs.

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels; reserve some grease in the skillet. Let bacon cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes; chop and set aside.
• Heat reserved grease in the skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine 6 cups chicken broth and half-and-half in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir in grits, return to a boil, and cover. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until grits are tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• While grits are cooking, bring remaining 2 cups chicken broth to a boil in another pot. Add greens, reduce heat, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all liquid.
• Stir bacon, onions, Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheeses, butter, salt, and pepper into grits. When butter is melted, stir in greens. Transfer mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until starting to brown on top, about 15 minutes.

CHEESY GRITS WITH POACHED EGGS, GREENS, AND BACON

Steps:

• Bring 4 1/2 cups water to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan. Crack an egg into a small bowl, then gently slide egg into water. Repeat with remaining eggs, waiting until whites are opaque before adding the next one (about 30 seconds apart). Poach until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to paper towels as they are done; set aside.
• Fish out any wispy pieces of cooked egg with slotted spoon; discard. Bring same saucepan of water to a boil and add a couple pinches of salt. Whisking constantly, gradually add grits. Reduce heat to low, cover saucepan, and cook grits, whisking occasionally and scraping bottom to prevent sticking, until tender, thick, and creamy, 25-40 minutes, depending on coarseness.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, until bacon is crisp, 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a small bowl with slotted spoon. Combine chile and vinegar in another small bowl.
• Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. fat from skillet; cook shallot, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add chard in batches, letting it wilt slightly before adding more, and cook, tossing, until completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper, and some chile-soaking vinegar.
• Remove grits from heat and season with salt and lots of pepper. Add butter, then gradually add cheese, whisking until melted and combined; thin with a bit more water if too thick.
• Divide grits among bowls; top with chard, poached eggs, bacon, and chiles. Season eggs with salt and pepper.

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray.
• Place bacon (if using) in a large Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off the bacon fat.
• Return the pot to medium-low heat; add oil, onion, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and starting to brown in spots, 2 to 8 minutes (cooking time will be quicker if you started with bacon). Add 1 cup broth and salt; bring to a boil over high heat. Add collards (or kale); stir until wilted down to about one-third the volume and bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Adjust heat during cooking to maintain a simmer, and add water, 1/4 cup at a time, if the pan seems dry.
• Meanwhile, bring 2 cups water and the remaining 1 cup broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Pour in grits in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, whisking often, until thick, about 5 minutes. Combine 1/2 cup cheese, salsa, and egg in a small bowl. Remove the grits from the heat and quickly stir in the cheese mixture until combined.
• Working quickly, spread about half the grits in the prepared baking dish. Top with greens, spreading evenly. Spread the remaining grits over the greens. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese and the reserved bacon (if using).
• Bake the casserole until hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350.
• 2. Dice bacon and cook in a medium skillet until it is nice and crisp. Drain bacon on a paper towel and set it aside.
• 3. In the same skillet as the bacon was cooked, pour most of the bacon grease out leaving about a Tablespoon. Dice the onion and cook it in the reserved bacon grease until the onion is translucent and set aside.
• 4. In a large pot combine 1/2 and 1/2 and 6 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stir in grits, bring back to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer. Stir often to keep from burning. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. You want normal grits consistency. I use a whisk to get the lumps out.
• 5. While grits are cooking, cook greens. Cook approx 10 min or until tender. If I use spinach, I cook them in the microwave in the steamer bag. Drain and squeeze out all the liquid.
• 6. Add butter, both kinds of cheese, onion, and salt and pepper to the grits. When butter is melted, stir in the greens.
• 7. Pour mixture in a greased 13x9 dish. Top with crumbled bacon and a little reserved cheese.
• 8. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.

VEAL GRILLADES AND GRITS WITH SMOTHERED GREENS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, add the veal. Season with Creole seasoning. Add the flour and toss the meat, coating completely. Turn the meat out onto a floured surface and lightly pound with a meat mallet. Turn the meat over and lightly pound again.
• In a large, cast iron pot, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the veal. Cook until the meat is browned on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers and celery. Season with salt and cayenne. Continue stirring, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot to loosen any browned particles. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted. Add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pot, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, thyme, oregano, basil, beef broth and wine. Season with salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Bring the liquid to a simmer, and cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender, stirring occasionally and keeping the pot partially covered. Remove the bay leaves.
• For the grits:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, over medium heat, add the milk, salt, cayenne and butter and bring to a boil. Stir in the grits and reduce the heat to medium. Stir for 30 seconds, then add 1 cup of the cheese and stir until the cheese melts. Cook, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the grits are tender and creamy. Pour the grits into a greased square glass pan. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the grits. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
• To serve, spoon the grits in the center of each plate. Spoon the greens around the grits. Spoon the veal mixture over the grits. Garnish with green onions and parsley.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.
• Fry the bacon in a large, heavy pot over medium heat until slightly crisp. Add the onions and season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted and golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the water and vinegar and mix well. Begin adding the greens, about a third at a time, pressing the greens down as they begin to wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until the greens are tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve hot.

PAN-SEARED SHRIMP WITH ROMESCO SAUCE, CREAMY GRITS, AND GREENS

Steps:

• For the grits: Place a saucepan over high heat with the chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the grits, and stir with a whisk. Once the grits come to a simmer, add the cream, again reduce the heat to low, and continue to cook until the grits just start to thicken, about 8 minutes. Add the cheese to the grits, taste for seasoning, turn the heat off, and allow the cheese to melt into the grits. Stir in the chopped parsley. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Cover and keep warm.
• For the greens: In a medium pan over medium heat, heat the oil and saute the mustard greens until starting to wilt, about 1 minute. Stir in the chile flakes and cook 1 minute. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until the greens are just tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• For the shrimp: Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter, allowing the butter to melt.
• Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and then add to the pan. Stir the shrimp while cooking. Cook until bright red, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Once the shrimp are cooked, add the wine to deglaze the pan, allowing the wine to simmer for 1 minute until reduced.
• Turn the heat off and add 2 to 3 tablespoons Romesco sauce, stirring in to coat the shrimp. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter to finish.
• To plate, spoon the grits onto a plate, top with mustard greens, and top with shrimp.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor until finely ground but not pureed. Add the bread, vinegar, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and paprika to the processor and grind together briefly until evenly pureed. With the motor running, add the olive oil slowly until the sauce is thickened. Taste and season with salt.

FILET OF BEEF ROASTED WITH COFFEE BEANS, PASILLA CHILE BROTH AND CREAMY WHITE GRITS WITH GREENS AND WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Tie the filet of beef with butcher twine at 1/2-inch intervals. Rub the filet well with salt and pepper. Rub the filet with the olive oil. Combine the ground coffee, cocoa powder and cinnamon and mix well. Spread the mixture over a work surface and roll the filet in the mixture to evenly coat the beef. Allow to marinate approximately 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F.
• Place the filet on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast the filet for 10 minutes. Immediately lower the heat to 250 degrees F. After 20 minutes, check the internal temperature of the filet (125 degrees F for medium rare or 135 degrees F for medium). If further cooking is necessary, return the beef to the oven (still set at 250 degrees F) and slowly roast to the desired temperature. Remove the filet from the oven and keep warm. Before carving, remove the string.
• Slice the filet into 1/4-inch thick slices. Spoon some of the Creamy White Grits with Bitter Greens and Wild Mushrooms in the center of each dinner plate. Arrange the slices of filet around the grits. Ladle some of the Pasilla Chile Broth over the filet. Garnish with watercress sprigs.
• In a heavy bottomed 2 quart pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt. Add the grits while stirring. Bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat to a very low simmer. Cover the pot but stir every 2 to 3 minutes until the grits are thick. The grits will take approximately 20 minutes to cook. If the grits become to thick, add a little water to adjust the consistency.
• In a skillet over medium high heat, melt the butter until foaming. Add the chopped onions and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add the shiitake mushrooms and saute until lightly cooked. Add the greens and briefly saute until wilted. Remove from the heat. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
• When the grits are cooked and ready to serve, stir the greens and mushroom mixture into the grits and keep warm.
• Heat a saucepan over medium high heat. Add the butter and saute the onion and garlic cloves until nicely browned. Add the pieces of pasilla chile and tortilla pieces and slowly saute until the ingredients are golden brown. Lower the heat to medium low if necessary. Add the chicken stock. Bring the stock to a boil, then simmer, lightly covered, for approximately10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Transfer the ingredients to blender and puree for approximately 1 minute or until smooth. Pass the sauce through a sieve to remove any chunky pieces. Add the cream, salt and brown sugar and blend. The sauce should not be too thick. If too thick, add some addition chicken stock or water to correct to a light consistency. Reserve until ready to serve.

GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Make the grits: In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable stock and 2 cups water over medium-high until boiling. Once boiling, slowly pour in the grits while whisking to reduce lumps. Once the grits come to a boil, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, whisking frequently, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the stove. Season the grits with the pepper, then stir in the milk and cheese until the cheese melts. Season to taste with salt. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make the greens: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high. Add the shallot and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red-pepper flakes, collards and chard. Toss to combine until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are very tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, and season again to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the grits among plates and top with the greens and a dash of hot sauce.

GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Combine whipping cream and 3 cups chicken stock in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Gradually stir in grits. Cook over medium heat until mixture returns to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes, or until creamy.
• While grits cook, pour remaining 1 cup chicken stock into a large skillet; add greens. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until greens are tender and stock is absorbed.
• Add butter, cheese, and pepper to the grits, stirring well. Stir in cooked greens. Cook 1 minute or until grits and greens are thoroughly heated and the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon, and serve immediately.

SMOKED RIB EYE WITH WHITE GRAVY, COLLARD GREENS AND GRITS SOUFFLE

Steps:

• For the rib eyes: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with wood chips, then top with a rack.
• Sprinkle all sides of the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Place on the prepared rack, then tent with foil. Bake until the desired internal temperature, 115 degrees F for medium-rare, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the steaks dry, if needed. Rub the steaks with the oil on both sides, then sear the steaks on the first side for about 2 minutes. Flip the steaks and add the butter, thyme and garlic cloves to the skillet. Once the butter has melted, continue to cook the steaks, continuously basting with the melted butter, until seared on the second side, about 45 seconds. Sear the fat cap as well to crisp up, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the steaks from the skillet and loosely cover with foil. Set aside.
• For the white gravy: Without wiping out the skillet, add the onions and garlic and cook in the drippings over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to lightly brown, about 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine the broth, milk, Worcestershire, molasses, lemon zest, cayenne and thyme. Gradually add to the skillet, stirring constantly, until well incorporated. Bring the mixture to a boil and let cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and season to taste with salt. Serve with the Grits Souffle and Potlikker Greens.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter eight 6-ounce ramekins.
• Bring the milk, grits, salt and 3 cups water to a boil, stirring occasionally, in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue boiling, stirring often, for 20 minutes. Add the butter and stir until melted. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the grits are soft, about 15 minutes more.
• Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Vigorously stir in the cheese and egg yolks. Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. (The mixture needs to stay loose and not clump.) Gradually stir in another 1/2 cup water, as needed, to loosen up the grits.
• Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Stir a third of the beaten whites into the grits mixture to loosen it. Fold in half of the remaining whites until incorporated, then fold in the remaining whites until only a few white streaks are left. Pour the mixture into the prepared ramekins and smooth the tops.
• Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Immediately top with more Cheddar and the chives. Serve hot or warm.
• In a large pot, combine the turkey, red pepper flakes, garlic, onion and 2 quarts water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the collards: Set aside 4 whole collard leaves. Working in batches on the remaining collards, hold the stems with one hand and the leaves with the other, folding up the leaves together like the wings on a butterfly. Pull the leaves down, leaving the stems clean. (If the leaves are really large, cut them down the center.) Working in batches, stack the leaves, then roll them like a cigar. Slice the rolls thinly.
• Add the sliced greens to the pot and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pull the meat from the turkey leg, then discard the bone and return the meat to the pot along with the vinegar.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and generously salt. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Add the reserved whole collard green leaves to the boiling water and boil until vibrant green, about 20 seconds. Remove with tongs, and immediately transfer to the ice water.
• Preheat the broiler and line a baking sheet with foil. Pat the whole leaves dry and lay on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush with the oil. Broil the leaves until lightly charred in spots, about 90 seconds. Stuff each leaf with collard greens and serve additional potlikker on the side in a ramekin.

DECONSTRUCTED ROASTED TOMATO GRITS AND SHRIMP, WITH SAUTEED BABY MUSTARD GREENS AND BACON "CONFIT"

Steps:

• For the bacon confit: Blot the bacon with paper towels and place in a small roasting dish Combine the cinnamon, cloves, pepper and thyme in a small bowl. Rub the bacon with the spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Melt the bacon fat in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook slowly until golden brown and crisp on one side, about 10 minutes. Turn the bacon and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 more minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl, drizzle with a splash of vinegar and garnish with parsley. Reserve the bacon fat for the mustard greens.
• For the roasted tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Mix together the oil, thyme and some salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with the oil mixture. Then sprinkle with the sugar. Bake the tomatoes until they are completely softened and start to wrinkle, 30 to 40 minutes.
• For the cheese grits: Bring 6 cups of water and the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan and season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly. Cook until mixture is thick and tender, about 30 minutes, adding more water, if needed. Mix in the Cheddar and Pecorino-Romano until thoroughly incorporated. Season with some salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the sauteed baby mustard greens: Heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add the mustard greens and season with salt and pepper. Toss just to coat with the fat. Add a splash of water and cook until the greens are just wilted, about 2 minutes.
• For the shrimp: Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add 8 to 10 shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until well-seared and crisp but just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
• On a serving platter or individual plates, spoon and slightly spread a mound of hot grits (if they have gotten too stiff, thin them a bit by whisking in hot water over low heat). Spoon the tomatoes on top, then add the greens and bacon. Top with the shrimp.

GRITS WITH GREENS AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring the milk and water to a simmer in a heavy-bottomed nonstick saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the grits and the garlic and bring just to a boil.
• Cook until soft and creamy, adding heavy cream as needed, to make a loose but not runny mixture.
• Add as much butter and cheese as desired, stirring to make sure the cheese doesn't stick.
• Add the shrimp and cook a few minutes more, until pink.
• Fold in the washed and dried greens and remove from the heat. The greens will cook in the hot grits.

GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Boil 1 bunch quartered baby turnips in 4 cups salted water, 5 minutes. Add the chopped turnip greens and 1/2 cup frozen lima beans; cook 2 minutes. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon. Add 3/4 cup instant grits to the water; add salt and cook, stirring, until thick, 5 minutes. Stir in the vegetables and 1 tablespoon butter. Season with pepper.

GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Combine the milk and the cream in a heavy pan and heat to just under a boil.
• Stir in the grits and cook 5-10 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in 2 T of the butter.
• In the meantime, place the greens, still wet from washing, in a large skillet.
• Cook them with the rest of the butter over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until thoroughly wilted.
• Add the greens to the grits.
• Stir in the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.
• Can be served as is, or you can pour in a greased casserole dish and top with a little more cheese, then broil.
• (I suggest the latter).

SHRIMP WITH GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Bring milk & water to simmer in heavy-bottomed non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add grits & garlic and bring just to boil. Cook until soft and creamy, adding heavy cream as needed to make loose but not runny. Add as much butter and cheese as desired, stirring to make sure cheese doesn't stick. Add shrimp and cook a few minutes, until shrimp turn pink. Fold in greens, and remove from heat. Greens will cook in hot grits. Season with salt & pepper. Serve in chafing dish for a party or individually as an appetizer or main. Variation: Add enough cream to grits to make consistency of a dip. Chop shrimp & greens before adding to hot grits. Serve with tortilla chips.

GRITS WITH JACK CHEESE, CHILES, AND GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Slice the chile in half, discarding its veins and seeds, and arrange skin side up on a baking sheet. Place under the broiler and grill for about 10 minutes, until the skin is blackened. Cover the chile with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for about 20 minutes. Peel off the skin or scrape it off using a paring knife. Chop the chile.
• Place the grits, water, salt, and butter in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about 3 hours, until the water is absorbed and the grits are tender. Thirty minutes before serving, stir in the onion, arugula, roasted chile, and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into bowls and top each portion with a sprinkling of cheese. Serve at once.

GRITS WITH GREENS AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring milk & water to simmer in heavy-bottomed non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add grits & garlic and bring just to boil. Cook until soft and creamy, adding heavy cream as needed to make loose but not runny. Add as much butter and cheese as desired, stirring to make sure cheese doesn't stick. Add shrimp and cook a few minutes, until shrimp turn pink. Fold in greens, and remove from heat. Greens will cook in hot grits. Season with salt & pepper. Serve in chafing dish for a party or individually as an appetizer or main. Variation: Add enough cream to grits to make consistency of a dip. Chop shrimp & greens before adding to hot grits. Serve with tortilla chips.