Let's talk about grits

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I make my grits by cooking them in about equal parts of.grits and water.  Add real butter and a bit of salt just before you add the grits  Boil the water until it's really boiling away, then add the grits very slowly and keep on stirring for about twenty minutes.  Turn the heat down at around eight minutes and turn it off altogether at about fifteen minutes...but keep on stirring.  Add more buter and / or salt to your taste. 

 

Now then, I serve them with salt and pepper and butter, or with white country gravy, or sausage gravy. or sausage gravy with bacon, turkey or chicken gravy (IMHO it's nasty), left over thick beef gravy, bacon bits, even SOS or hamburger.

 

So (you're asking yourself) why is 40 telling us this?  Because, my friends and neighbors, I met a couple who serve theirs with shrimp and suggested I try them with scallops, crab, lobster tail, pulled pork, left over pork chops and a whole passel of other stuff.  They even suggested veggies...which I'm not likely to try.

 

They suggested almost everything but peanut butter and grape jelly.

 

I want to know what y'all think of these combinations and grab a few recipes, as well.

 

How 'bout it?

Edited July 25, 2025 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

As long as they ain't lumpy 

Edited July 25, 2025 by The Original Lumpy Gritz

[Stump Water]

On the east coast of NC shrimp and grits used to be something that you would only find at places away from the beach proper... where the locals eat (some of the best "down east" food IMO).  The dish is from the Gullah culture.  Typically a breakfast dish.

 

Over the past 20(?) years it has become a thing and most restaurants have a version of it.  And it's not just for breakfast anymore.

 

I've never prepared or eaten it.  Scads of recipes on the innernets.

[Subdeacon Joe]

For breakfast, just like any other cooked ground grain cereal - cooked with milk, butter, and a little salt.  For serving, butter, a little salt, sugar, jam or orange marmalade, and some raisins or chopped dates.  For evening, cooked with milk, salt, LOTS of butter, some herbs.  Never cared for shrimp in/on it.  On the side, yeah.  But I don't do "Shrimp & Mashed Potatoes" so why would I do Shrimp & Grits?

[Stump Water]

5 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

But I don't do "Shrimp & Mashed Potatoes" so why would I do Shrimp & Grits?

 

Never thought about it that way, but... yeah.

[Blackwater 53393]

Shrimp and grits with cheese is delicious!!  Cajun/Creole spicing is my choice, but there are multiple versions that you might enjoy.

 

Scallops is intriguing! I love seared scallops!!  Prepared similar to shrimp and grits will be in my near future, as will crab or lobster!!

 

I already do chopped country ham and or bacon! That’s a breakfast staple!!

 

I also do grits with butter and honey as a side for biscuits and gravy or any combination of eggs and breakfast meats.

 

A delicious counter to serve with any grits dish is cold sliced tomatoes with coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper.

 

 

[Eyesa Horg]

I'm in for the seafood! Sounds excellent. I've already had vegetables this year.

[Rip Snorter]

2 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

I'm in for the seafood! Sounds excellent. I've already had vegetables this year.

That resonates!

[Subdeacon Joe]

5 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Shrimp and grits with cheese is delicious!!

 

I meant to say "sometimes cheese" for the evening meal grits.  Lots of sharp cheddar and some grated parm.

[Eyesa Horg]

I've never actually had grits except as 45-70 filler, but now I'm hungry and will have to try some. Especially with the seafood and cheese!

[Blackwater 53393]

7 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

I meant to say "sometimes cheese" for the evening meal grits.  Lots of sharp cheddar and some grated parm.

Substitute Romano for the parm! Much more toothsome flavor!!  Richer without being overpowering.  I hardly ever use Parm anymore.

[Eyesa Horg]

I'm liking the sound of sharp cheddar. But then I live in Cabot country!!

 

[J.D. Daily]

Sounds like Southern version of congee.  Chinese rice porridge that just about anything edible is added.  
There are a lot of Chinese restaurants in NY’s Chinatown server it.  Learned about it on the from Andrew Zimmerman.  15 years ago spent a week in NYNY where I tried it.  Adding toppings makes the dish.

LA’s & SF’s Chinatowns don’t hold a candle to NY’s.  For the variety of Asian  in NYNY in the SF Bay Area you have to include the whole Bay Area.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

52 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

As long as they ain't lumpy 

Don't sweat the small stuff, Hoss.  You're safe here.  Not a cannibal in the county.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

47 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Shrimp and grits with cheese is delicious!!  Cajun/Creole spicing is my choice, but there are multiple versions that you might enjoy.

 

Scallops is intriguing! I love seared scallops!!  Prepared similar to shrimp and grits will be in my near future, as will crab or lobster!!

 

I already do chopped country ham and or bacon! That’s a breakfast staple!!

 

I also do grits with butter and honey as a side for biscuits and gravy or any combination of eggs and breakfast meats.

 

A delicious counter to serve with any grits dish is cold sliced tomatoes with coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper.

 

 

Now those tomatoes sound great!  I have some for breakfast every now and then so It's not all that much of a change.  Thanks.

 

Lots of good hints here.

[J-BAR #18287]

After a very long winter in northern Michigan ('68-'69) my employer transferred me to southeast Missouri.  I stayed in a Drury Inn while house hunting in Cape Girardeau.  My first breakfast in the hotel restaurant, the waitress asked if I wanted grits or hash browns with that.  I knew I was home.

[Blackwater 53393]

Had me some grits just now!! Butter ‘n’ honey and some biscuits ‘n’ gravy!!

[Chicken Rustler, SASS #26680]

On the Gulf Coast it became kind of a fad to eat cheesy grits or shrimp-n-grits, I still haven't even tried it and don't care to. That's not weird though, what's weird is I heard some people up north eat their grits with sugar instead of salt and pepper and butter. 

[Blackwater 53393]

Nothing weird about it!!  They’re great as a hot breakfast cereal!! I prefer honey when available and add lots of butter!  Sometimes I add fried apples with cinnamon too!!

 

Broaden your horizons!!  You’d be surprised what you might discover!!

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Breakfast today:

 

grits with lots of butter, diced green bell peppers, a bit of diced white Idaho onion, chunks of bacon, a bit of bacon grease, a small dollup of dark unfiltered maple syrup ( for the bacon), salt and pepper to taste, and more butter.  Sided with OJ / AJ mix, coffee with a lots of sugar and a couple of left-over corn meal blueberry muffins.

 

The muffins were over kill...too much corn on the plate.

 

It was what I had in the fridge.  I went to the store and came home with shrimp, scallops, tomatoes, a fresh lime,  and a very small potato.  I already have four or five kinds of cheese, some salsa, and a closet full of spices and related stuff.

 

One down side:  I've finally got down to 195 pounds yesterday ....and gained three back since breakfast

[watab kid]

im not a big fan of grits , tapioca , or some other things similar , i like rice and ill eat oatmeal if made proper 

 

im good with mashed potatoes and ill be honest here - no refried beans for me 

Edited July 27, 2025 by watab kid

[Doc Shapiro]

52 minutes ago, watab kid said:

im not a big fan of grits , tapioca , or some other things similar , i like rice and ill eat oatmeal if made proper 

 

im good with mashed potatoes and ill be honest here - no refried beans for me 

 

Very similar for me, but not oatmeal.  Also not a fan of polenta, which is basically the Italian version of grits.

[Buckshot Bear]

Only time I've ever had 'grits' is when the soil hasn't been washed properly off the lettuce. 

[watab kid]

3 minutes ago, Doc Shapiro said:

 

Very similar for me, but not oatmeal.  Also not a fan of polenta, which is basically the Italian version of grits.

im with you there - never liked that either , think its a textural thing 

[Doc Shapiro]

11 minutes ago, watab kid said:

im with you there - never liked that either , think its a textural thing 

That and very bland.

[Rip Snorter]

29 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said:

Only time I've ever had 'grits' is when the soil hasn't been washed properly off the lettuce. 

Dam' - True Grit(s)!

[Doc Shapiro]

3 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Breakfast today:

 

grits with lots of butter, diced green bell peppers, a bit of diced white Idaho onion, chunks of bacon, a bit of bacon grease, a small dollup of dark unfiltered maple syrup ( for the bacon), salt and pepper to taste, and more butter.  Sided with OJ / AJ mix, coffee with a lots of sugar and a couple of left-over corn meal blueberry muffins.

 

The muffins were over kill...too much corn on the plate.

 

It was what I had in the fridge.  I went to the store and came home with shrimp, scallops, tomatoes, a fresh lime,  and a very small potato.  I already have four or five kinds of cheese, some salsa, and a closet full of spices and related stuff.

 

One down side:  I've finally got down to 195 pounds yesterday ....and gained three back since breakfast

 

I've dropped over 30 pounds since we moved to Idaho.  Congrats on the weight loss!

[Blackwater 53393]

1 hour ago, Buckshot Bear said:

Only time I've ever had 'grits' is when the soil hasn't been washed properly off the lettuce. 

I try not to eat lettuce!!  It does me the way cucumbers do some people!  I substitute raw spinach!  Better flavor and better for ya’!!  Popeye is my hero!! 🤣🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

Edited July 27, 2025 by Blackwater 53393

[Capt. James H. Callahan]

Not real big on grits. Texas is hash brown country. I've eaten them, they're tolerable, but that's about it. Not high on my yummy list.

JHC

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

2 hours ago, watab kid said:

im not a big fan of grits , tapioca , or some other things similar , i like rice and ill eat oatmeal ifb proper 

 

im good with mashed potatoes and ill be honest here - no refried beans for me 

Refried beans are  just plain nasty.

 

I lean toward hash browns, corned beef hash and some kinds of mashed potatoes, but some variations just don't fit my pistol. 

 

I love plain old corn bread and once in awhile something like blueberries or cranberries cooked in.  No matter what it is if I can add and pile of butter and some honey.

[Buckshot Bear]

2 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

Dam' - True Grit(s)!

 

I'd like to try grits......never heard of them down here. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

8 hours ago, Doc Shapiro said:

 

I've dropped over 30 pounds since we moved to Idaho.  Congrats on the weight loss!

Thanks.  I went from 282 down to 195 in 27 months...and it didn't even hurt once I got used to doing it.  My son is at 301 and says he doesn't have the will power to lose the weight.  Neither did I until I adopted a WON'T POWER plan.

 

Now if I could only get rid of this six year old kid that I'm still carrying around my waist.  I'd like to swap it out for the return of my muscles.

Edited July 27, 2025 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Chicken Rustler, SASS #26680]

21 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Nothing weird about it!!  They’re great as a hot breakfast cereal!! I prefer honey when available and add lots of butter!  Sometimes I add fried apples with cinnamon too!!

 

Broaden your horizons!!  You’d be surprised what you might discover!!

Haha maybe I am weird! I like oatmeal or cream of wheat with plenty of milk and sugar but don't want grits that way. 

I've tried honey with tea and coffee but never with grits, thanks for the suggestion. 

[watab kid]

22 hours ago, Doc Shapiro said:

That and very bland.

im glad you said that - in my mind there was no taste at all and for that reason no need to eat it - im not looking to fill my gullet with filler 

[watab kid]

20 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Refried beans are  just plain nasty.

 

I lean toward hash browns, corned beef hash and some kinds of mashed potatoes, but some variations just don't fit my pistol. 

 

I love plain old corn bread and once in awhile something like blueberries or cranberries cooked in.  No matter what it is if I can add and pile of butter and some honey.

we have the same pallet here , all of it , as to refried beans - i dont like them the first time they are fried , a mouthful of mush to fill your stomach , 

 

dont get me wrong , i know there are healthy reasons to eat them but for the life of me i choose not to , i like green beans and string beans ,im fond of a little baked beans once in a while if made just right ,  only one ill never ever touch again is lima beans