My Grandmother's Recipes | South of the Border Grits

October 15, 2013

So far the past two recipes have been things my mother doesn't eat. 

For someone raised by my grandmother, she doesn't eat biscuits, grits, cornbread, and I'm sure there is another food item I'm forgetting. 

I happen to love grits. 

Every memory of staying at the camp as a kid involved sausage, eggs, grits, and biscuits. It also involves a very vivid memory of the woman making that food. 

I can still smell it. 

There was just something about going to the camp with my grandparents with out my parents. My sister and I would pile in their car and drive to the country. 

Right before we were out of town completely we'd stop for Popeye's Chicken. 

That night we'd have chicken, the next morning we'd have the breakfast I mentioned above, and after a day of fishing we'd have fried perch. 

I also can vividly remember, and smell, my grandfather filleting perch out on the patio. 

This particular recipe aren't the grits I recall, Mom said she made everything plain so the cousin's would eat it. I would eat it, but Laura and Chris for sure were insanely picky kids. 

These fall in the category of "things Nanny made for just her and Pop." 

If it makes you feel better, the recipe is old. Out of one of those cookbooks from the 70's when microwaves became popular. 

Yes, they want you to microwave these grits. 


South of the Border Grits::
Serves 6
Ingredients::
4 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 cup regular grits (not instant)
1 14oz can of diced tomatoes (or Rotel if you like spicy)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder (not in the recipe but I added it in)
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions::

  1. Put all ingredients except green onions and cheese into a 2 quart microwave safe bowl. Stir to mix.
  2. Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring once, until thickened.
  3. Stir in green onions and cheese. Cover and let stand 5 minutes before serving. 
Nutrition info (without cheese)::
113 calories, 3 g protein, 24 g carbs, 1 g fat, 486 mg sodium. Exchange 1 1/4 starch/bread, 1 
vegetable.

I suggest making this on the stove, I personally blow things up in the microwave... this was a bit of a mess. It tasted great, but me and microwave meals just aren't friends. 


How do you like your grits?