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Northern friends sometimes want to know, where do “grits” come from?
Grits are usually “quick-cooking”, (cooking in just 5 minutes) or “instant”, (just pouring boiling water over them and stir). We Southerners add lots of “real” butter and sometimes grated cheese. They’re especially good when cooked in chicken broth. When it
comes to grits, Southerners are very creative, using them for the basis of casseroles, a popular low-country (on the coast) dish called
“Shrimp & Grits and even Grits Pie!
In 1976 South Carolina declared Grits as their official state food!
Cheesy Grits Casserole
A southern favorite for breakfast but also good as a side dish with fish or game.
3 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1
cup quick-cooking grits
½ cup butter
1 (6-oz.) roll garlic cheese
3 large eggs, well beaten
2/3 cup milk
½ cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
Cooked
bacon, crumbled
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring water with salt to a boil. Add grits, whisking, to keep from lumping. Reduce
heat to medium low and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. While hot, add butter and garlic cheese, stirring until melted. Cool
slightly. Combine eggs and milk and stir into grits mixture. Pour into a greased 2 qt. baking dish; top with grated cheese and bake
for 40 minutes. Sprinkle top with crispy crumbled bacon and serve immediately. Served 6 to 8
Note: If Kraft garlic cheese roll is hard to find, substitute 8-oz. grated sharp cheese plus 1 tsp. garlic powder.
Note: Ratio of water to grits:
4 to 1. Multiply for as many servings as needed.
For 2 servings: bring 1 cup water to a boil; add a little bit of salt and about 2
tablespoons butter and ¼ cup grits, turn heat to low; cover with lid and cook, stirring occasionally till thickened, about 10 minutes.
Add shredded cheese at the end, just before serving. Serve immediately.
Spice it up with a little Texas Pete or Tabasco and, if serving country ham, the Red-Eye Gravy adds a touch of country flavor.
To keep Grits hot: keep in top of a double boiler
with water just simmering below.
Pork Loin & Rice Casserole
Want a quick & easy casserole to put together for supper?
This 1970’s one takes only seconds of
your time!
2 to 4 boneless pork loin chops
1 cup raw Uncle Ben’s rice (not instant)
1 can cream of celery soup
1 soup can of water
1
envelope Lipton’s dry onion soup mix
In a bowl, combine the rice, condensed soup, rinse out the soup can with water and add to
the mixture. In a 9x9-inch or whatever similar size baking dish you have, pour the rice mixture into it. Nestle the loin chops down
into the rice mixture and sprinkle the dry soup mix on top. Cover tightly with foil and place in a 350 degree oven. Bake for 1½ hrs.
or till the rice is done to your liking. (Emery likes his rice cooked soft). That’s all. Serve with a salad or green vegetable
or whatever side you like. Serves 2 to 4
Note: This is very similar to the Chicken & Rice Casserole featured in our Jan.
2011 recipe collection but a little smaller.
8-oz. box (when you can find it) = 3 to 4 servings
16-oz. box = 8 servings
For a crowd:
32-oz. box= 16 servings, cooked.
Just need 2 servings? Cook ½ of an 8-oz. box.
Cooking:
Al dente’= cook 10 minutes
in lightly salted boiling water.
Soft= cook 20 minutes.
Left-over spaghetti noodles will keep in fridge in airtight container several days.