Grits 101: Lesson Two

Grits Love

My daughter's breakfast. Quick grits with butter in a heart-shaped Care Bears bowl.

Lesson One explained that there are three kinds of grits, instant, quick and regular. You may recall how the Instant Grits were indeed instant. They only take an instant to make....hence the name. All you do is pour them in the bowl and add hot water. Or add cold water and mic it. The problem with Instant Grits is that the taste suffers greatly from the instant-ness of them. I'm guessing with all the processing, some of the goodness was lost.

Lesson Two focuses on Quick Grits. They are very quick to make....also hence the name. Quick Grits are quick, but they taste WAY better than the instant. WAY!

This trip to the store I purchased the brand Dixie Lily out of Alabama. Now, isn't that a "down-home" name? Dixie Lily? I think it is adorable and must remember it for the next female thing I have to name. Kitty, Doggy, Child, doll, cow, whatever: "Dixie Lily." Too cute.

Anyway, I've tried them all. Jim Dandy is the usual favorite of mine. I just couldn't resist the name on the day I bought the grits.

HOW TO MAKE QUICK GRITS

With Quick Grits, you bring water to boil on the stove. Stir in the grits and salt.

(BIG IMPORTANT NOTE HERE: ADD THE SALT. Grits require salt. They just do.

Not only that, but grits require the salt to be added while they are cooking. Not after. Not when they are on your plate; it's too late then.) 

So after adding the grits AND THE SALT, lower the heat and cover. In 5 minutes you've got you some grits. Pretty quick, huh?

But.

If you want to kick them up a notch, to make them even better, do this. After the requisite 5 minutes, add some butter and some milk. Stir; cover; cook another 3-5 minutes.

Delicious.

Now a lot of folks add cheese to grits. That is a delightful addition, I must say. Either grated or chunked in there. Make sure the grits are hot enough to melt the cheese. Yum. Adds calcium too, right?

So bottom line is this. Forget about the instant grits unless you are in a huge gigantic hurry. The Quick Grits are delicious and don't take much longer to prepare.

~~~~A side note is that I've never tried to make grits in the microwave. And I doubt I ever will. It just seems wrong to me somehow....Someone else will have to report to us on that.~~~~

Okay, okay, that sounds too "set in my ways" and harsh. I'll try it! I'll make some in the mic and report back.

Here's the nutritional and ingredient info for Quick Grits.

Next up is Regular Grits.....

Or how Cousin Vinny won the case.