Sausage and cheese grits casserole with shrimp

image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLKq4oE8FaXFsoAK3jACdvyQKq_LtWgbYv8v_cXi0GWbIM_iYI4bQmhvjMOJRVkXy6jmCT92-esLbLaXMrjwEf_88quT3-_9TJr0p_PseI6Q9Ox42Z5F_uC6_wUXQdauQVNFf-wHB75-o/s640/IMG_4022.JPG

Read more at http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/02/sausage-cheese-grits-casserole.html#A9bDizg4ADhSdHUS.99
I have to say this does not look like much, but topped off with the items below, it is a special dish from plainchicken.blogspot.com (This is her picture as well.  Mine is on my Facebook page.)
(Tomorrow slow cooker city grits with smoked
Gouda.) Recipe and picture from plainchicken.blogspot

I have a grit-loving family but I do not know where that came from because I had not cooked a grit until yesterday. Maybe it is Beth's fault.  She is from New Orleans and their grits are fabulous.  The last time I was there I had a dish of grits at the Broken Egg with shrimp and I was amazed at how easily they disappeared from the dish to my mouth.  So this will be grit week at the Lechlers starting with this easy and scrumptious dish. (I cannot get a picture to transfer to this blog, but you can see it on my Facebook page.)

I used the long cooking kind but the fast grits work too and anyway they go in the oven for an hour after you cook them, as directed, on the stove.  Also, I added the shrimp to the sausage balls with some of Carfagna's tomato sauce to top off the grits.

Saute Bob Evans zesty sausage with one onion.  (I make miniature balls of sausage and dice the onion.) One package is enough to put in the grits and to later top the grits with shrimp and tomato sauce. So I use the balls two ways in one dish...in the grits to bake for an hour and then on top to serve.

4 cups of boiling water to that add 1 1/4 cup of uncooked grits of your choice.  I used the long cooking grits and cooked them, stirring constantly with a whisk for 15 minutes.

Once the grits are cooked remove from the heat and add 4 cups of shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; one cup milk, spices of your choice, 4 large lightly beaten eggs.  Stir in the sausage balls.

Butter a baking dish and sprinkle the bottom of the dish with paprika and spoon the batter into the baking dish.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour or until golden.  Let the dish stand 5 minutes before topping it and serving.  It will cut in squares.  Top it with your choice of any toppings; I used shrimp and the rest of the zesty balls in about a 1/2 cup of good tomato sauce.

Hominy casserole and more~

Note: I haven't been just cooking, I've been eating up Tim Tigner's books on my Kindle.  I finished FLASH and started PUSHING BRILLIANCE.  If you like Lee Child and Stuart Woods you most assuredly will like Tim Tigner.  I have just discovered him and I am in for the long haul.

I have been a busy little cook this week but my phone camera is acting up and I cannot picture anything. So please use your imagination but do try at least the hominy casserole that is actually done by me in an iron skillet.  First of all you cannot hurt this recipe.  Anything goes but the hominy is necessary. Use two or three cans, I started with two can, but I am having it for an April event, so I will use at least three then.  In an iron skillet saute either bacon or I used diced pancetta  (from Trader Joe's) with one diced onion. Then start adding what ever you like: peppers, celery, carrots, peas, anything tasty.  Add the two can of hominy, 2 cups of milk or half and half or some cream, some parmesan cheese if you have some on hand; stir it around add shredded cheese of your choice and bread crumbs on top--now I got the idea instead of bread crumbs to use a package of Stove top stuffing sprinkled over the top.  I popped this mixture in the oven in the iron skillet for 45 minutes and Andy was enthusiastic as he gobbled it down.  I have two or three more testers of this recipe to go, but I can assure you I would not go to the trouble of typing this in a blog if it were a failure.

The thing I did yesterday is fantastic.  You know how your crab cakes fall apart if you don't get enough binder in the mix--or can you successfully keep shredded potatoes from falling apart as you attempt potato pancakes?  I had bought 4 pounds of Carfagnas CHICKEN meatball mix to make a batch of meatballs for an upcoming party.  I got the idea, as I looked in the bottom drawer of my frig and spotted several cans of lump crabmeat that I buy when it is $9. a can instead of $16. a can... which it usually is.  It is a big blue can and this one was Giant Eagle brand which is very good, but there is another blue can and I can't remember which brand it is, but it is good too.  I mixed two pounds of the chicken meatball mix with a half can of the crab meat, some spices, pepper, and a little salt, mixed it up and made several miniature meatballs for parties.  Popped them in the oven to bake 12 minutes or until hot in the center and brown on the bottom.  I had enough left in the bowl to make a patty for Andy...Well, that's all she wrote.  He always orders crab cakes from the menu and I can never make them without them falling apart so there you have it.  If you don't have a Carfagna's that is a real shame, but their spiced chicken meatball mix is so good.  I hope you can make it up yourself, but don't ask me how.  Oh, I forgot, I added a heaping tablespoon of grainy mustard to the final mix. I made more meatballs and several patties.  I had a few left over and added them near the end of the bake time to the hominy casserole and today Andy, my love of nearly 58 years, is a happy man.

Winter's back

I can tell you I did not have my morning coffee outside today.  Winter is back following a good rain storm last night.  But hope springs eternal, I know spring is around the corner and it looks like all is well.  

Beth and I are planning sheer outdoor sunbrella curtains for each of the two entrances to the pergola.  I had them once but did not have the rods secure enough and they were regular sheers, so they did not hold up well.  Sunbrella products are really good, so we are giving the place a new look.  The one thing I can't seem to get right are the pool umbrellas.  I need three or four and have, so far, thirteen! None of which are what I want.  Some were sent with the wrong color, some have a rope to raise them and for short people that does not work.  Some lose their color too fast, some pick up the dirt in the air and hold it like gold.  I fear for my life if I order four more.  At some point Andy is going to have a hemorrhage.  (While some women collect shoes, I collect pool umbrellas.) I may put them down by the road.  Things disappear in an instant when I do that.  One time Adam was cleaning out a shed and he would carry the items to the road and by the time he would walk up for another load what he had left would be gone. Yep, good stuff. So why not pool umbrellas?

I'm back to winter stews and today it is a fish chowder.  I stirred in a big spoon full of grainy mustard and it turned out to be even more delicious.

WaaaWaaa, after 57 years my springform pan has broken.  I bought this in California when Andy and I went there to work the day after our wedding.  May and Company was the department store where this was purchased for $8.  Many a cheesecake has been baked in this pan and I will miss it in my batterie de cuisine.

Morning coffee outside in February~

I can honestly say I don't think I ever sat outside having my morning coffee watching spring approach in February.  The dogs are stunned.  They have been spending most of the week outside all afternoon inspecting the reason for spring to appear in February.  

Nate will soon be home.  He is on his last leg of charming new acquaintances in country after country.  He started off in New Orleans, then Colorado, then Hawaii and on to New Zealand and Australia. Once he is in a spot he stays, taking in all there is to see. (Actually, he is going back to New Zealand and back to Hawaii and then home from Hawaii. Wow.)  He has met the most wonderful people and Andy and I hope that these new friends who have been so good to our grandson will stop by for a few days when and if they get to America. Travel is an education unto itself and Nate is good at it. He is a life-long learner like his grandfather.

On the homefront, Andy who is 81, is still attending classes at The Ohio State University.  Yesterday he got an A on a paper entitled Commodity Chain Analysis: Bleuette Dolls.  I had not read the paper before he submitted it and was pleased that he had selected this subject.  The French doll, Bleuette, was the last phase of my antiquing (dealing and collecting) in Paris and America. I had done two books on the subject and Andy had done many shows and trips with me so he selected this subject for a paper.  He says he is the teacher's pet and I can see why. Andy is a life-long learner and it keeps him perky.

We have begun buying large containers for planting.  Every year the pots stack grows and we are eager to begin planting.  Andy came home yesterday saying the Pansies are in, the Pansies are in. But really, this IS too early to plant in OHIO. It could be snowing in fifteen minutes without much warning.

Have a lovely Thursday.  I'll see what is in the frig for today's meals.  Oh, yesterday I used a can of biscuits with left - over cranberry sauce and baked these two items together for a lovely, easy dessert.  I usually use a can of apple pie filling but now I know what ever you use with these biscuits be it sweet or savory, the dish is delicious.  Try it.  You will be amazed.

I checked the freezer and decided to try Trader Joe's mini meatballs in a pasta dish.  Each time I go to Trader Joe's I buy a product I have not tried from there and I am never disappointed.  I thought if these mini balls are really tasty, that would cut out a big step in one of our big family events.  April 16th is Easter this year...EARLY.  So we are going to try for an outside event with grilling as the main to-do.  It's never too early to start planning when thirty or so people are involved.

I've settled on spaghetti and meatballs with roasted mushroom.  If you have not tried roasted rather than sauteed mushrooms you are missing out on flavor.  They taste, actually taste, like they look and should taste...so much better.

Nate's adventures...

Where have I been one might ask...

I have been absent from my blog due to my phone bucking and bullying for several days.  Somehow the camera refused to send pictures until I just now adjusted the darn thing and suddenly it worked, so here I am once more with goodies and ideas gleaned from a late Sunday night trip to Trader Joe's with Beth.  Riced cauliflower and riced broccoli have resulted in a delightful soup with pepper bacon accents.  I did not even have to get the food processor out because you can now buy this short cut at Trader Joe's.  The soup takes minutes to prepare and you have a lovely result.

          Then there is the bread pudding that I made from Anderson's brioche. That's a sad story.  This wonderful general store is closing its four stores forever.  It was a shock to Columbus I can tell you that.  Andy and I went over the day the closing was announced and we had to wait for a place to park.  Too late, they said. It is a done deal.  We are closing.  Their products were wonderful.  Lisa, who writes Cook's Corner in Columbus, asked them for their recipes to feature in her food section of the Dispatch and they said no.  So when they are done, they are done, and I understand that concept. (Now I can't get this picture on. ) No peace.Bread pudding made from Anderson's brioche.

Ahhhh, there it is.

Signs of spring

We are longing for spring.  When primroses appear in the markets Andy grabs them to surprise me.  It is always a sign that spring is on its way.  The oranges are from Sam's and this is our third bag of them.  They are so delicious this year. I just slice them up and leave them on the counter and they disappear like candy.

Andy's after class treat today.  Yes, he is 81 and still taking classes at OSU.

I am getting ready for some company in a few days and am playing the make-ahead menus.  Mushroom soup is going to be one of the soups. I have captured this soup which Andy hates because he dislikes mushrooms with a passion.  But, there are several of us who enjoy them in any form.

Andy's after class treat. (Yes, he is 81 and still taking classes at OSU.)

Let's calm down!

                                               

With America in a snit it is difficult to think about cooking or just about anything else.  The news harps on making everyone uncomfortable and fretful.  I wish we would ALL just calm down.

Andy and I made a trip to Sam's today and had the store to ourselves which is unusual.  The best buy in town is their rotisserie chicken.  Juicy, succulent, diverse and larger, yet less expensive, than any at Kroger or Giant Eagle.  I took the meat from the bones, stuck the bones, herbs, carrots and celery into a stock pot for making broth.  The chicken I divided into bags for chicken salad, chicken pot pies, and one for the dogs who get chicken nearly every morning with their regular food.

 

We like their salmon too, so we will be having that in the very near future.  Everyone but Mike likes seafood of any kind and one can do so much with salmon.

Sam has a really nice cheese selection.  I stock up on cheese while I am at Sams.

Their green beans reminded me of the little Rose ham in the freezer.  I decided right then to make a big pot of beans, ham, and potatoes for Mike to take to Stacy's house for dinner.  Matt and Stacy's baby is two months old and they both work, so cooking is not a priority in that house. Mike, the grandfather for the first time, is the gap filler between Matt getting home and Stacy leaving for work.  That's working for the winter, but come spring and Nate and Mike are back to full gear working themselves.

Sam's had wonderful bags of sweet oranges today.

We are having a spring like January which suits everyone.  I fear February, but maybe it will stay pleasant then too.  One can only hope.

tasty cake

I have been whining about my TV copper ware but today I made a banana foster (pineapple) upside down cake in my largest one and it worked beautifully. Go figure.  I could have waited a bit longer to made the bottom darker, but the cake is so tender and delicious that looks aren't everything.  It's a supper cake.

two item bubble up dessert

On this nutty day I managed two delightful supper items:  The dessert has only two items and I don't apologize for this because it is delicious. I know you need quick desserts just as I do. The next is a chicken pot pie with hash brown bricks instead of the usual puff pastry or pie crust topping. 

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1 tube of Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls with icing
1can of apple pie filling.
 350 for 25-35 minutes
Cut rolls into fourths. Butter the baking dish stir around the apple filling to cover each fourth. Bake 

Girls' day out

I was so happy yesterday shopping with Beth in some of our favorite haunts yet today I read that Andersons' will be closing its wonderful stores after seven decades.  They have not made a profit, according to the article, since 2008, so who can blame them?  They made a really big store expansion a few years ago, but it must not have worked.  They carry such great items and special treats in every nook and cranny.  I just can't believe we won't have this wonderful general store because they are closing between April and June of this new year.
1/16/2017

Brown rice medley which has long grain brown rice, black barley and Daikon radish seeds. Delicious and the new to try basmati rice medley both from Trader Joe's.





Beth, one of my (great) daughters-in-law, and I ran around today after church.  We had lunch at Chuy's, then hit Trader Joe's...a crazy time to shop, but we found several great new items to try and here they are.  Then on we went to World Market where we found some more finds.  I had not been out to shop in weeks, so it was a real treat.

In one post I wrote about how my batterie cuisine was getting too heavy for me and what did I just do but buy another iron skillet.Oh well, there are enough people who will gladly lift it for me as long as they can eat what is in it.

I try to buy something different to try each time I get to Trader Joe's so I have five things in this picture that I have not tried.  But look at the picture of the rice at the bottom--Trader Joe's rice medley and it is the best.  I bought some for Brooks to try since he is now into cooking.  The lemons are my favorites, sweeter and tastier than regular old lemons.  But in their vast rice section was a new one for me basmati rice medley with herbs and vegetables.  I also saw and bought coconut oil spray to use instead of Pam.  Trader Joe's has many sauces and marinades so I bought Soyaki.  TJ 's Israeli couscous box has a recipe on the back for the couscous with pine nuts and parsley. Yum. 

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Trader Joe's rice medley/ vegetables and Chuy.

I adore winter food and especially vegetable concoctions such as I made today.  I took my last bag of wonderful Trader Joe's rice medley and combined the rice cooked in chicken broth with cauliflower and broccoli.  I then stirred in two heaping spoonfuls of my Chuy's creamy dressing and topped it all with cheese and popped it into the oven.
(Just out of the oven and it is delicious.)

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