The Ultimate Shrimp and Grits

Not an easy recipe to put together, 

but aren't shrimp and grits worth it?

The recipe is adapted from Tyler Florence . . . 

a great dish for a special occasion!

Ingredients

Grits

• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (if desired)
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 4 cups water 
• 1 cup quick cook grits (not instant) 
• Kosher salt 
• Fresh ground black pepper (if desired) 
• Extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1 medium white onion, minced 
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced 
• 1 pound spicy andouille sausage links, cut into bite-size pieces 
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 2 cups chicken broth 
• 1 bay leaf 
• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
• Pinch cayenne pepper 
• 4 shakes bottled hot sauce 
• 1/2 lemon, juice only 
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley 
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives 
• 1 recipe Buttermilk Biscuits 

Buttermilk Biscuits

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 cup cold shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 - 2 cups buttermilk

Directions

Grits

Add the water, butter, salt (about 3 teaspoons) and cream (if desired) to a 3-quart pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. 

Add grits and whisk constantly. 

Reduce the heat and simmer when the grits begin to bubble. 

Cook until the mixture is smooth and thick, for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove from heat. (Thin grits with a little extra cream or water, if necessary). 

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sauce

Heat about 2 tablespoons olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. 

Saute the white onion and garlic for about 2 minutes to soften. 

Add the sausage.  Cook, stirring, until the fat has rendered and the sausage is brown. 

Sprinkle flour into the fat.  Stir to create a roux. 

Slowly pour in the broth and continue to stir (this will avoid lumps). 

Add bay leaf. 

Cook and stir occasionally until the liquid has come to a simmer.  

Remove from heat. Keep warm.

Shrimp

Preheat the grill to medium-high. 

Quickly and carefully wipe the grate with oiled paper towels to create a nonstick surface. 

Season shrimp with plenty of salt and pepper. 

Place shrimp on grill; cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink. 

Put it all together

Fold the grilled shrimp into the sauce. 

Add the cayenne pepper, hot sauce, and lemon juice. 

Season with salt and pepper. 

Stir in parsley and chives. 

Serve shrimp on top of the grits with Buttermilk Biscuits (recipe follows).


Buttermilk Biscuits

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Sift together, in a large bowl, the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. 

Cut in the pieces of shortening into the flour mixture, using your hands or a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 

Make a well in the center and add 1 cup buttermilk. 

Quickly fold the dry ingredients into the buttermilk using your hands, until a sticky dough forms. (If the dough is too dry, add 1/2 to 1 cup of buttermilk, a little at a time, until a sticky dough forms.) 

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. 

Create layers by gently fold the dough three or four times. 

Press the dough to a 1 1/2-inch thickness.  Cut with a floured 3-inch biscuit cutter. 

Place the biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet. Brush the tops with additional buttermilk. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

This recipe was adapted from:

Source:  recipe.com

Recipe by Tyler Florence

Pumpkin Praline Bars

Quick, easy, semi-homemade and delicious

Pumpkin Praline Bars from Pillsbury!

Ingredients

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 (17.5 oz.) package Pillsbury® Perfectly Pumpkin Cookie Mix
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

HEAT oven to 350°F. 

Prepare a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with foil.  Extend foil over edge of pan and coat with no-stick cooking spray.

Combine cookie mix and 1/2 cup melted butter in medium bowl with fork until evenly mixed.

Press cookie mix into prepared pan. 

Bake 10 minutes.

WHISK egg in medium bowl, then whisk in corn syrup, 2 tablespoons melted butter and vanilla until blended. Stir in pecans. 

Spread evenly over partially baked cookie mix layer.

BAKE 23 to 25 minutes, until topping is set and golden brown. 

Cool 15 minutes.  Using edges of foil, remove from pan.

Place on cutting board and pull foil away from sides of bars. 

Cool completely. 

Trim outer edge before cutting into bars.



Nutritional Information Per Serving

Serving Size (1 bar of 20), Calories 200 (Calories from Fat 100), Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g), Cholesterol 25mg, Sodium 170mg, Total Carbohydrate 25g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 13g), Protein 2g; Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%, Vitamin C 2%, Calcium 0%, Iron 4%.

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Source:  Pillsbury.com

Chicken Alfredo and Rice

Chicken and rice is a favorite meal for me . . . well, I love just about anything with rice!

Love the addition of Alfredo Sauce for added creaminess and roasted red peppers for the extra flavor.  Add some poblano peppers or cayenne pepper if you like hot spiciness!

Ingredients

• 1 10 ounce container refrigerated light Alfredo pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups cooked white rice or wild rice
• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/3 cup chopped bottled roasted red sweet peppers
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted (optional)
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In large bowl combine pasta sauce and milk. 

Stir in rice, chicken, peas, sweet peppers, nuts, and basil. 

Transfer to 1-1/2-quart baking dish.

Bake, covered, 30 minutes. 

Uncover and stir. 

Combine bread crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle atop. 

Bake, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes more or until heated through and crumbs are golden brown. 

Let stand 5 minutes before serving. 

Serves 4


Nutrition Information

Per Serving: cal. (kcal) 456, Fat, total (g) 16, chol. (mg) 97, sat. fat (g) 8, carb. (g) 45, Monosaturated fat (g) 3, Polyunsaturated fat (g) 2, fiber (g) 3, sugar (g) 7, pro. (g) 32, vit. A (IU) 1068.98, vit. C (mg) 40.15, Thiamin (mg) 0.42, Riboflavin (mg) 0.28, Niacin (mg) 9.67, Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) (mg) 0.55, Folate (µg) 116.92, Cobalamin (Vit. B12) (µg) 0.37, sodium (mg) 672, Potassium (mg) 366, calcium (mg) 222.13, iron (mg) 3.78, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Source
Originally published by Better Homes and Gardens

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

This pasta meal reminds me of a very fancy mac and cheese!

Love these kind of meals that are fast, easy and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-oz.) package ziti pasta
• 2 (10-oz.) containers Alfredo sauce
• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream 
• 1 (15-oz.) container ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese 

Preparation

Cook ziti according to package directions; drain and return to pot.

Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with ziti until evenly coated. 

Spoon half of ziti mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Stir together ricotta cheese and next 3 ingredients; spread evenly over pasta mixture. 

Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Note: 

Ziti pasta is shaped in long, thin tubes; penne or rigatoni pasta may be substituted. For testing purposes only, we used refrigerated Buitoni Alfredo Sauce.

Prepare up to 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, and bake as directed.


Amy Faggart, Concord, NC, Southern Living APRIL 2006
Source