Bakin’ With Bacon and the King

Oh yeah!  Saturday is BACON DAY!  Ready?

We’re making a trip to “low country” this morning for this delicious dish I’m going to show you.    My Mom and Dad just got back from an overnight at a VERY beautiful country Inn and the Chef was from Lousiana – one of the breakfast items available was very similar to this recipe.     It’s better for lunch or dinner but – well – it was tough for Mom and Dad to resist ordering it for breakfast since it was on the menu so they did!!!

Shrimp and Cheesy Grits With Bacon

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 cups chicken broth

1-1/2 cups evaporated milk

3/4 cup quick-cooking grits (yes I know these aren’t available everywhere but if you CAN find them – PERFECT – if not – well – I’m so sorry!!!!)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese   (plus one extra tablespoon of shredded cheese for topping when it’s all done!!)

1 cup chopped raw bacon

2 tablespoons bacon drippings

1 pound uncooked medium shrimp – peeled and deviened

1/2 cup diced green bell pepper

1/2 cup diced onion

Directions

Bring chicken broth and evaporated milk to a boil in a large saucepan; stir in grits and salt and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer grits until thick, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese until melted. Set grits aside and keep warm.

Cook and stir bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a bowl. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings from the skillet and cook and stir shrimp, green bell pepper, and onion in bacon drippings until shrimp are bright pink and no longer translucent inside and green pepper is tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir bacon into shrimp mixture.

Spread grits into a serving dish, top with shrimp mixture, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese for garnish.

 

I wish I could say that I can think of a good substitute for grits in this recipe – maybe rice?   Not sure about that but I think that would work.    Grits are one of those things my Mom says she just FORGETS about but this dish was one of her and Dad’s faves when they used to eat at one of the restaurants in our town (pre-pandemic).    Shrimp with Grits – talk about delish!!!!!!!

Pooh knows what he’s talkin’ about!!!!

Happy Saturday from the Castle Baconia Kitchens!!