Grits 'n' Greens Casserole

This is a recipe that we all enjoy - it's southern all around.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups cream
2. 8 cups chicken broth, divided
3. 2 cups grits - NOT instant or quick-cooking
4. 1 large bag frozen collards (we've used home-grown greens and it works great)
5. 2 sticks butter
6. 2 1/2 cups Parmesan
   
7. 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
8. 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

Directions:

Grease a 9x13 casserole dish

If you want to brown the casserole, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine cream and 6 cups of the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in grits and cook over medium heat until the grits return to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and stir frequently to keep it from burning, 25-30 minutes.

Add milk if needed to thicken to proper consistency (about like slightly runny oatmeal).

While grits are simmering, cook frozen collards with remaining 2 cups of chicken broth 'til tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well in colander, squeezing out remaining liquid.

Add butter, Parmesan and pepper to cooked grits, and stir 'til butter is melted. Stir in cooked greens and spoon into greased casserole dish. Top with additional Parmesan and bacon. Dish can be served at room temperature or heated in a 350 degree oven 'til browned on top.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Okay, now for the pancakes. :)

• 3 cups soft white wheat flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups buttermilk

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs and buttermilk and gently mix. Pour onto griddle or skillet. Let bake and then flip over.

We always double the recipe; a regular batch serves about 5 people. I like to make several bags of the dry ingredients and then store them in the freezer so that when we want pancakes all we have to do is add the eggs and buttermilk. If you don't have buttermilk, just mix equal amounts of milk and yogurt. We also like to add either chopped pecans or fresh blueberries for variation. (Is that better, Laura?) :D

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Alright Laura, here are the cookies. :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups Soft White Wheat Flour
• 1 cup Oatmeal
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup pecans (optional)
• 1/2 cup milled flax seed (optional)
• 2 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix in the rest of the ingredients. Make into 1" balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min.

This recipe makes about 5 dozen, depending on the size you make the cookie. We like to freeze them so that they are ready whenever we need them. Also, I've found that sometimes they need more baking time than it says; but I tend to not do very well making the cookies 1" balls so that's probably why... :)

What to post...

Laura,
I need you to tell me what some of the recipes were that you wanted me to post. I have honestly forgotten. In the meantime I guess I'll try and think of something else to post...