It's no holiday without the cheese grits

St. Petersburg Times ^ | November 27, 2003 | COLLEEN JENKINS

[Wonder Warthog]

"Thing is, I have never met anyone else who includes this dish as part of the Thanksgiving meal."

Well, not Thanksgiving---but Christmas. And yes---YYUUUMMMM!!!!

[netmilsmom]

Are cheese grits part of your dinner today?

(my dad would anounce that I was going for more stuffing as well!)

[doodad]

I made grits casserole at the company Thanksgiving lunch and was amazed at how many had never had or heard of such a thing. I told the yankees it was polenta.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

No I've never heard of cheese grits. But it made me think about the different traditions that tighten families ties together during the holidays.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I see the author's family isn't alone with their love of cheese grits. I didn't think they would be.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Yankees can find more ways to screw up grits. You can always tell when they've had a hand in it - the recipe begins "Take one packet of instant grits"......

[cajun-jack]

ROFLMAO

[4mycountry]

We have "Texas grits".

Cheese grits, peppers, sausage, and other wonderful stuff all put together... MMMMM!

~ Happy Thanksgiving ~

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Grits

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[4mycountry]

Instant grits are sin. Yuck.

[LouD]

In my (Italian) family, we always ate real polenta, freshly made and the consistence of a thick milkshake, covered with tomato sauce, and served with pork and meatballs.

I loved it as leftovers, too, when we'd bake it with some sauce over it, and sprinkled with parmesan - but it's a completely different dish. Because it is a tremendous amount of work to make fresh, most people only get it this way, in a tiny square garnishing a plate at a trendy restaurant.

[doodad]

Yup, that is what we call grits casserole. 3 cups cooked grits, 2 cups chesse, 2 cloves garlic (crushed), diced hot or mild peppers, 1/2 pound sausage (browned and crumbled). Combine in casserole bake at 350 for 35 minutes until brown on top. Not a Thanksgiving tradition for us, more a really good brunch item.

[doodad]

That sounds great. Is there any real diff between grits and polenta?

Now, have you ever had grilled grits? They are unique and delicious.

[Ol' Sox]

Yankees can find more ways to screw up grits.

We Real Yankees don't eat grits, much less cook 'em. Don't even know what to do with 'em, but we are curious. A real Yankee walked into a restaurant in the south and asked for some grits. The waitress says "Hominy?" and the real Yankee says "Oh, 10 or 12, I guess". < /rimshot >

[Leroy S. Mort]

A Yankee once told me that grits were only good for putting out cigarettes - more proof that culture stops north of the Mason-Dixon line.

[blam]

"We Real Yankees don't eat grits, much less cook 'em. Don't even know what to do with 'em, but we are curious. A real Yankee walked into a restaurant in the south and asked for some grits. The waitress says "Hominy?" and the real Yankee says "Oh, 10 or 12, I guess". < /rimshot >"

Grits were introduced to the first pilgrims by the Indians. Grits were a yankee food before they were a southern dish.

[Eala]

Even Yankees like these grits.

I've quite shuddering when the Yankee goodwife pours maple syrup over her grits... but cheese grits??? Sounds good!

[Mercat]

My favorite meal was hot water cornbread made with and fried in bacon grease and served with navy bean soup and greens. yum.