Grillades and Baked Cheese Grits

I was served Grillades and Helen Tuft's house a couple of years ago with grits and Markus and I have been hooked ever since. I didn't get her recipe cause she said it was her grandmothers and she doesn't know where it came from, but I found this one in River Roads which is equally as good. I can't believe I haven't posted this until now. Beef it's what's for dinner tonight!

2-1/2 or 3 lbs sirloin tip or round steak
5 tbls bacon drippings (I use olive oil)
3 tbls flour
3 med onions, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
2 med bell peppers, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 bunch celery with leaves, chopped
1/3 bunch parsley, chopped
2 cups canned tomatoes
2 cups beef or veal stock (broth)
1 tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 small bay leaf
1/2 tsp thyme, crushed
salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat in bacon drippings. Remove to a platter. Add flour to drippings and stir until rich brown. (you are making a roux here which to get to that brown could take an hour or better, so I just cheat and use roux out of the jar). Add vegetables (except tomatoes) and saute until transparent. Add meat and all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, adding water as necessary. Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve over hot grits, garlic grits, rice, or potatoes.
Serves 10-12
River Road Recipes II

Baked Cheese Grits:
2 tbls butter
6 cups milk
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I use more of course!)
2 cups quick-cooking grits
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degreese. Grease 9x9 baking dish with 1 tsp butter.

Heat saucepan over med heat and add milk, salt, cayenne and remaining tbls of butter. Bring to a boil, stir in grits and reduce heat to med low. Stir for 30 secs, then add 1 cup of cheese and stir until cheese is melted. Cook uncovered for 6-8 min, stirring constantly, until grits are tender and creamy. Pour grits into prepared pan and sprinkle remaining cheese over grits. Bake 20-25 min or until cheese is melted and slightly golden. Serve hot.
from Emeril Lagasse, Food Network

Watergate Cake (Pistachio)

Mrs. Dot at the Water Company made this cake for special occasions and boy is it good! I was thinking about her the other day and thought I would post her awesome cake!

Cake:

1 white cake mix

1 small box pistachio instant pudding

1 cup oil

3 eggs

1 cup ginger ale

Icing:

9 oz Cool Whip

1 cup milk

1 small pistachio pudding

Mix cake ingredients well pour into 8" or 9" cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake. Mix icing ingredients well and spread on cool cake.

from Dot Guillot

*Easy* Garlic Cheese Biscuits

I saw these on the Paula Deen show years back and have been in love with them ever since. They can be done so many different ways too!

Biscuits:
1 1/4 cups biscuit mix (Bisquick)
1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar (mild is ok too)
1/2 cup water

Garlic Butter:
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (I use my Pampered Chef stones which work beautifully).

Combine the biscuit mix and cheese in a small bowl. Add the water and stir just until combined. The dough will be slightly moist. Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, until the biscuits are firm and beginning to brown.

While the biscuits are baking, make the garlic butter. In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic powder, salt, and parsley flakes. Mix well. As soon as you bring the biscuits from the oven, brush them with the garlic butter using a pastry brush.

**For a different twist I use the bread seasonings (comes with like 4 in the same bottle) or Cajun seasoning of your choice to substitute for the Garlic. I've never been disappointed. Also when choosing shredded cheese don't go for the fancy shred it doesn't really hold in the biscuits but rather melts and gets lost**

Makes 12 small or 6 large

From Paula's Home Cooking Show

Rocky Road Brownies

A friend asked me to post this cause I put a pic of them of FB. So here they are. I cheated that's all I'm gunna say!

1 pkg fav brownie mix (I use Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies... its not my fav for the record but still good)

• 2 cups miniature marshmallows (I love these things)
• 1 cup walnut pieces (I used a little less, but I wasn't in the mood for nuts, your choice)
  
• 1/2 cup caramel or chocolate sauce, store bought (once again personal choice... Markus chose the fudge sauce...I'm a caramel girl, imagine that)

Bake brownies according to package directions. I always put mine in a 9 x 9 pan. I find they are the perfect thickness and cook the best through. If you choose the 9 x 13 method of baking you might need more ingredients above.

Once brownies are removed, Immediately sprinkle the marshmallows and nuts evenly over the brownies. Stick it under the broiler for 2 minutes, or until the marshmallows are light golden brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Drizzle the caramel or chocolate sauce over the cooled brownies before cutting. *** I soooo didn't wait until room temp, but I like things scorching hot because I'm impatient***

Can't say how much it serves because we put a hurtin' on these things!
**P.S. I wanted to add chocolate chips to the top but forgot, so if you want extra chocolate (i usually don't) go for it!**