Mid-Week Yumminess: Southern Style Shrimp & Grits

Tonight was to be an easy cooking night! We were to eat a simple dinner & watch our redbox movie "Noah" and have a night of relaxation.

So tonight we had  Southern Style Shrimp & Grits!!!

(which by the way is one of my absolute favorite meals!!! #Score)

And Here's my recipe for this delicious dish....

Ingredients: 

• Medium Frozen Cooked Shrimp (thawed - tails removed)
• Quick Cook Grits
• Frozen Chopped Okra 
• Butter (a stick or two)
• Flour 
• Minced Garlic 
• 2 small or medium onions (chopped)
• 1 medium green bell pepper (chopped - seeds removed)
• Cajun Seasoning
• Ground Red Pepper 
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Hot Sauce (optional)

Directions: 

Over high heat in a pan saute all the chopped onions & chopped bell peppers with a 1/2 stick of butter until tender. Season them with the various seasonings & remove them from the pan into a bowl. They'll be used later. 

In the same pan (do not rinse), over medium-low heat add 1/2 stick butter (or more). When the butter is melted add a few tablespoons of flour. Mix well with a whisk. You are making a rue to thicken up your sauce for the shrimp. Once the rue it thick and browned, slowly add a cup of warm/hot water while mixing. The sauce will be thick. Add more water cup by cup until you have the desired amount of sauce for your shrimp (4 to 5 cups should be plenty). If your sauce is too thin mix flour and about a cup of water and few tablespoons of your sauce in a cup. Add this mixture to your sauce. You should notice it thickening right away. If it gets too thick add more water. Turn the heat to low and continue cooking your sauce.

While the sauce is cooking, boil your water for your grits and add in salt and a pad of butter. Follow the directions on the canister for your grits. The shrimp makes about 8-10 servings. So be the judge on the amount of grits to make. While the grits finish up (it usually only take 5-8 minutes) finish up your sauce.

Add more seasonings to the sauce along with the sauteed veggies, a few tablespoons of minced garlic,and your shrimp.  Once everything is mixed and gently boiling add about a cup of the frozen okra. They go in last. Continue to cook for about 2 minutes to heat those okra in the sauce. Turn off the heat, Stir, and Let the sauce sit a few minutes to thicken and cool down.

When the grits are complete, ladle them into a bowl and cover the grits with a ladle or two of the shrimp mixture. You can add hot sauce for your taste. Serve with a corn muffin or a square of corn bread. 

This is such a down home country favorite of mine. It warms the belly & soul.

Until Next Time, 
Enjoy & Eat Well...

Truly, PKM

"Keep Living. Keep Laughing. Keep Loving...Always."