Creamy Stone Ground Grits With Mushrooms And Country Ham Recipes

COUNTRY HAM WITH STONE-GROUND GRITS AND REDEYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the grits and return to a boil. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Decrease the heat to low and simmer until creamy and thick, stirring often, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the country ham and cook until crisped and golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes. Remove the ham and keep warm. Add the coffee and 1 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the "gravy" has reduced to about 1/2 cup, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon the hot grits into warmed bowls. Top each with a pat of butter and black pepper to taste. Top with the ham and ladle over the gravy. Serve immediately.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth, 5 cups water, and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil. Slowly add grits, whisking constantly. Return to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thick and creamy, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in butter and cheese until smooth.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• Bring water, salt, and 1 tablespoon butter to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan, then add grits gradually, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, covered, stirring frequently, until water is absorbed and grits are thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in 1/2 cup milk and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally to keep grits from sticking to bottom of pan, 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and grits are thick and tender, about 35 minutes more. (Grits will have a soft, mashed-potato-like consistency.)
• Stir in pepper and remaining tablespoon butter.
• *Available from John Martin Taylor (800-828-4412; www.hoppinjohns.com).

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• Bring water and milk just to a simmer in a 4- to 5-quart heavy saucepan. Meanwhile, cover grits with water in a large bowl and whisk vigorously. Let stand 30 seconds, then skim any chaff that has floated to surface with a fine-mesh sieve. Drain grits well in a fine-mesh sieve and whisk into simmering milk mixture.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer grits, partially covered, stirring often with a heatproof rubber spatula, until grits are tender and thickened to the consistency of loose oatmeal, about 1 1/4hours (stir more toward end of cooking to avoid scorching). If grits become too thick before they are tender and creamy, thin with hot water (about 1/2 cup).
• Stir in cream, butter (if using), and salt. Remove from heat and keep warm, covered, up to 20 minutes.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the water and milk to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Slowly add the grits, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring often, until the grits are creamy and thick, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Line a plate with paper towels. While the grits are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook until lightly browned and some of the fat has rendered, about 3 minutes. Remove the ham from the skillet to the prepared plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• In the same skillet, using the oil left in the pan, add the mushrooms, season with freshly ground pepper, and saute, stirring, until barely tender, about 2 minutes. (No salt is needed, as the salt from the ham has flavored the cooking oil.) Add the wine and cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender, about 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the grits from the heat; whisk in the cheese, parsley, and butter. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. To serve, place a dollop of grits on individual serving plates. Spoon over the sauteed mushrooms and top with the country ham. Serve immediately.

CREAMY STONE GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, combine the water, milk, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Stir in the grits. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. (**The grits will stick to the bottom of the pan, so make sure not to scrape the bottom of the pan. If the grits absorbed all of the water, add some hot water to thin out the grits.) Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cheese. The grits can either be served immediately or prepared in advance and reheated. If preparing in advance, grease a pan with a teaspoon of butter. Pour the grits into the pan and reheat in a 400 degree F., for 15 minutes.

BACON AND MUSHROOM STONE GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. When cool roughly chop and set aside. Remove all rendered fat except 2 tablespoons in the saute pan and add butter and garlic. Saute garlic for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue to cook until mushrooms are tender. Salt and pepper. Stir in chopped parsley. Keep warm until grits are finished cooking.
• In a medium saucepan, over high heat, bring water, cream, butter, salt and pepper to a boil. Stir in the grits and bring back to boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes.
• Fold cheese, mushroom mixture and bacon into grits and serve.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS

Steps:

• Sauté onion in butter.
• Add chicken stock and half and half; bring to a boil.
• Whisk in the grits. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir in cream cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Continue to simmer 1-2 minutes longer until grits are creamy.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese and green onions. Serve immediately or cover and keep warm.

CREAMY GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Make the grits: Cook the grits with water according to the package instructions in a large, heavy-bottomed pot, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed to ensure no grits stick to the pot. The cook time can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the age and quality of the grits. When the grits are tender, remove from the hot burner and pour in the oat cream, oil and salt, stir well, and cover. (If you cooked the grits with salt, then start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste.) Set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium. Once heated, add the onion quarter, jalapeño and garlic cloves. Char and slightly cook the vegetables, turning occasionally. The garlic will likely be done first, after 4 or 6 minutes. Place each item in a bowl when charred and cover with a lid.
• When the charred vegetables are cool to the touch, remove the outer skin of the onion, the jalapeño stem and the garlic peels. If you are very sensitive to spice, slice the jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove one half's seeds and white veins to make it much milder.
• In a blender or mini food processor, blend the onion, jalapeño and garlic with the lemon juice, olive oil and cilantro until smooth. Add more olive oil if needed to blend, 1 tablespoon at a time. Clean the mushrooms with a damp towel and break apart or cut at the stem into 2-inch pieces. Place the mushrooms in a bowl and pour the jalapeño sauce on top; let sit for at least 15 minutes.
• Make the chard: Place the chard shiny side down on a cutting board and slice the stems and ribs away from the green leaves. Stack the leaves in a pile and cut crosswise into thin strips. Transfer to a bowl, toss with 2 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the chard stems into 2-inch-long matchsticks. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the jalapeño, vinegar, garlic, onion and sugar, and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chard stems and let sit, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes.
• Heat a medium cast-iron skillet over medium, add the chard leaves and cook, using tongs to move them around quickly in order to keep their bright green color, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Set over medium-high heat. Shake excess sauce off the mushrooms back into the bowl; too much sauce will cause them to steam instead of sear. Add the mushrooms to the hot oil, and cook until tender and caramelized, 2 to 5 minutes per side.
• To serve, spoon the grits onto a large platter and top with the chard, mushrooms and pickled stems.