Southern Style Birds In A Nest With Butter Grits Greens With Bacon Over Easy Quail Eggs And Green Tomato And Green Apple Chutney Recipes

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the half-and-half and 6 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once up to a boil, stir in the grits. Bring it back up to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture has slightly thickened (it should resemble cooked oatmeal in thickness), 10 to 15 minutes. Use a whisk to break up any lumps that have formed.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until just turning crispy, about 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel, patting it to remove any excess fat. Using the same saucepan, add the onions to the leftover bacon drippings and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the collard greens and the remaining 2 cups chicken stock and cook until tender, another 10 minutes. Drain the collards and onions in a colander.
• Once the grits are done, add the Parmesan, butter, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the Monterey jack. Stir until the butter has melted and all the ingredients are well combined. Then add the drained collards mixture and stir.
• Transfer the grits mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the crumbled bacon and the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey jack. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

SOUTHERN GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a medium-size pot, cook collard greens in water (amount called for on package) and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 15 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Meanwhile, in a large heavy bottomed pot bring chicken broth, half and half and garlic salt to a boil. Whisking constantly add grits in a single stream. Lower heat to medium-low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 20-25 minutes or until creamy. May add more broth or half and half to thin, if needed.
• After frying bacon, remove to paper towels and crumble. Cook onion in 1 Tbsp drippings until softened, about 2 minutes.
• Remove grits from heat, add cream cheese and 2 Tbsp butter. Stir until fully melted. To the grits add greens, 1 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cooked bacon, hot sauce and black pepper. Mix until fully combined.
• To bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13 x 9 inch baking dish using 1 Tbsp butter or spray with cooking spray. Pour grits and greens into the dish. Top with remaining shredded cheese, Parmesan cheese and bacon. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is lightly golden. May broil to brown further, if desired.
• Let stand 5 minutes, garnish with green onion and serve with additional hot sauce on the side, if desired.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BIRDS IN A NEST WITH BUTTER GRITS, GREENS WITH BACON, OVER-EASY QUAIL EGGS AND GREEN TOMATO AND GREEN APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the chutney: Combine the green tomatoes, brown sugar, cider vinegar, curry powder, mustard seeds, fennel pollen, allspice, ginger, apple and red onion in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Taste and thin with chicken stock as desired. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
• For the greens and bacon: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the chard and beet greens and let wilt for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with vinegar, then add the sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of hot sauce. Add some of the bacon back to the pan, and combine. Use the remaining bacon as garnish.
• For the butter grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a boil. Add the grits and bring to a simmer. Stir, then partially cover, and cook, whisking occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/2 cup milk, whisk and partially cover. Cook, whisking occasionally, for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cook partially covered, whisking occasionally, another 15 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoon butter and season to taste with salt. Use additional stock to adjust the consistency as needed. Serve the grits with the quail eggs.

EGGS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Use a 3-inch cookie cutter to cut a shape out of the bread. Melt the butter in a griddle or frying pan. Place the bread in the pan and break an egg into the hole. Lay the cutout shape in the pan wherever it will fit and toast until golden brown. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper.
• When the egg is cooked on the bottom and before the bread becomes too brown, flip the egg nest to toast the other side and finish cooking the egg, about 1 minute. Serve with toasted shape.

SOUTHERN GRITS AND EGGS

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the grits, reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and black pepper; cover to keep warm.
• Crack the eggs into a large bowl. Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the okra, scallion whites, bell pepper, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste; cook, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Carefully slide the eggs on top of the okra mixture, keeping the yolks intact. Reduce the heat to medium; cover and cook, rotating the skillet occasionally, until the eggs are just set, about 6 minutes.
• Serve the grits with the vegetables and eggs. Top with the scallion greens.