Grits,
Seriously one of the best foods on earth. I and love them. They are a total Dude Food. If you can make good grits (or polenta) you can impress anyone...and well, isn't that why some of you are cooking? Breakfast with soft cooked eggs and grits will win the heart of your intended.
Unfortunately most corn these days is GMO, so it is important to choose organic grits. Boycott anything Monsanto touches and make the world a better place.
I generally don't like the quick cooking grits but go for the more coarse long cooking, however I tried Bob's Red Mill quick cook because they were the only organic type available at Fairway. They were good with just the right texture.
Shrimp and grits, gillades and grits, poached eggs and grits, cheese grits, jalepeno grits etc.
They are all good.
Yankees often love grits but have no idea how to make them, they then follow the package directions and get a lumpy mess.
DON'T FOLLOW THE PACKAGE DIRECTIONS!
The package tells you to start with boiling salted water.
Start with butter. For each cup of grits you use 1/4 lb. butter and melt it in the pan on a low heat.
Then stir the grits in.
Coating them with fat keeps them from sticking together when the liquid is added. Butter is flavor.
The package tells you to cook in water...water? Try white wine, chicken stock, ham stock, vegetable stock, this is your chance to infuse flavor into your grits.
More flavor can come from herbs. I added a tablespoon of mixed Italian Seasoning. Trader Joe's 21 Salute is great as well.
For one cup grits add 3 cups liquid.
Stir, bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer. For the quick cook you cover for about 5 minutes. But first check to make sure they are not too thick, if they are a touch more liquid will do.
See, they are already looking good.
Those are finished grits...unless you want to stir in a cup of cheese about now, or maybe just a touch of cream to make it all come together.
Did I say it was diet food?
A little beef and onion with just a touch of gravy with my grits. Looks good.
Now get out there and get yourself some good organic grits.