Shrimp + Grits + Cocktail

This isn’t my first rodeo.  I’ve been down this shrimp and grits road before… and I’ve taken you with me.  My last encounter with a warm dish of creamy grits and spicy shrimp was served to a gentleman whose only remark was that I had failed to remove the tails from the shrimp before serving them to him.  Really, dude?  Really!?  So ended that short relationship (not really… but sort of… FOR REAL).

I needed a redo.  Not for flavor’s sake, just for my own self… and because I totally just wanted a giant bowl of this madness.

New dating rule #37:  I graciously and happily remove a cooked shrimp tail for every car door that is graciously opened for me.  Respect, yo!

ps.  I don’t actually have thirty-seven dating rules.  I do, however, have two giant bowls of lunch.  Who’s counting (I am).

I made these Shrimp + Grits with my friend Jonathan.  I bought the shrimp, he crashed my house with beer, cucumber, and lime… and we shot pictures on the floor by my front door (see Instagram) (we’re really fancy).

Jonathan made a bonkers cocktail to pair with the Shrimp + Grits… a Cucumber Blonde Bloody Mary.  It’s fizzy and refreshing.  It’s takes the tomato thickness out of the traditional Bloody Mary and makes this cocktail truly gulp-able.  In addition to being an awesome bringer-of-cocktails-to-my-house, Jonathan is also an incredible photographer, baker… and he’s obsessed with my cat.  All the things I look for in a friend.

If you need some Shrimp + Grits inspiration, you’ve totally come to the right place.

You can count on two things when Shrimp + Grits come out of my kitchen:  the grits will be cheesy, and the shrimp will be buttery.

Please don’t call the diet police.

Grits are cooked up with a hearty handful of sharp cheddar cheese and a big pat of butter.  Salt and too coarsely ground black pepper make nice additions.

Before cooking up the shrimp, I sautéed spicy Italian sausage with a bit of garlic.  The sausage adds another level of flavor and spice with a saltiness that speaks to my heart.

Green onions, a good squeeze of lemon, and fresh parsley are added as bright finishing touches.

This is my comfort.  I’d like a pillow made out of Shrimp + Grits.

No… wait.  That’s impossible.  Instead I’d like a pillow made out of Chocolate Chip Challah, with a side of Shrimp + Grits.

That makes no sense, and yet I’m going to let it stand.

Shrimp + Grits is cornmeal gruel brought to its highest level.  It’s warm and comforting, and really… make sure you only take the tails off the shrimp for someone you really love.  It’s worth waiting for.

Spicy shrimp + Cold Beer Bloody Mary… such a major win!