Grits are the gift that keeps giving. This evening I learned that my mother—Irish born and longtime resident of the Northeast—has been eating them for years. This was news to me. They are not something I grew up on, and I love her impulse to try new things. I still remember the day, in the late seventies, when I stood by her side, my head probably just reaching past her hip, and tried a “new” fruit from New Zealand, the Kiwi. I never did like them much, but I’m glad to have inherited her taste for fresh and healthy food.
Grits have given pop music at least a couple of hits. In 1955, Little Willie John recorded Titus Turner’s “All Around the World,” which has a set of delightful opening lines:
Well, if I don't love you baby
Grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry
And Mona Lisa was a man
You can hear Little Willie John’s recording here:
Later, in 1969, Little Milton took those opening lines and renamed the song “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” and took it back to the charts. His rendition is here:
And what I want to know: what do you all do with leftover grits? My mother cooks a batch for herself that lasts a few days, and the leftovers get hard and dry. I think that’s what it’s supposed to do, and that there must be some recipes for either fixing them or turning them into something else. Any suggestions?
Love that Little Milton song! Thanks. I did a little searching this morning, and the most plausible recommendation seems to be making griddle cakes out of the leftover grits, dusting them with flour and frying them off in a little ghee or oil (see http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2012/01/03/using-leftover-grits/).
Some of the commenters to that post recommend putting the leftovers in your gas tank to keep your car running smoothly, but you are on your own with that one.
I just posted my Shrimp and Grits recipe at http://bigdinthehouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/shrimp-and-grits.html
Form leftovers into little corn cakes and fry in oil. Add corn kernels, onions/shallots, bacon, chilies, etc.
Yes, I would make a grits casserole. Take the cold grits and add a little milk to thin them out, shredded cheese and either crumbled bacon (cooked) or sausage (also cooked) along with an egg or two. Mix it all together and bake in a casserole dish. Salt and pepper if needed and maybe a green onion over the top when it comes out. Yummy dish to give leftovers a second life.
Agree about griddle cakes. Every blue moon, we convince my mom to make them in bacon grease along with green tomatoes like she used to when we were kids. Mmm mmm!
Love Grits, we have them a couple times a month. Southern Paella. You can use grits like the good people here have offered. They all sound good and griddle cakes with some hot peppers make a great breakfast.
Spread the grits on a cookie sheet evenly and let them set until firm. Cut into circles and transfer the cuttings to a baking sheet prepped for the oven. 10 minutes on 350 should give you a nice round pick-up for the topping of your choice. My favorite is chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper and a little olive oil. A shaved parmesan is a pretty nice option too.
Hope you and your family are well!
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All the best-
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