Several years ago, our family was lucky enough to receive an invitation to a fantastic Sunday Brunch Club and we have attended so many amazing meals with these friends! Our friend Kevin is the event planner and mixologist extraordinaire and always offers at least two well-researched, handcrafted cocktails. One of our other friends has a stellar blog, Inside of Knoxville, who knows about all the great events and projects happening in Knoxville so we always learn more about our great downtown.
I should probably at this point also mention that the food is always fantastic! Kevin almost always gives us a theme so for our last gathering we celebrated Mardi Gras (a wee bit late!). I racked my brain trying to figure out what to take and finally decided to start with one of my tried and true recipes as a base with the intent of "Cajunning it up." How's that for a great phrase?
One of my favorite recipes to take to brunch is cheese grits casserole. I used to think I didn't like grits, but it turns out that if you add enough cheese and butter, I love them! You For this recipe, I started with sauteed andouille sausage, red peppers, and onions and then added them to my standby recipe. They were absolutely delicious!
I love this recipe because you can make it up the night before and stick it in the refrigerator. Just add some extra baking time if you do this to make sure the casserole sets up properly.
Cajun Grits Casserole
1 andouille sausage link, chopped into large chunks
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced onion
1 T. olive oil
6 cups water
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
1/2 t. garlic powder
2 cups grits
4 cups cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks (you could also use shredded)
1/2 cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Generously butter a large casserole dish or baking dish.
Heat olive oil in a medium skillet and saute sausage, bell pepper, and onion until vegetables are soft and sausage is slightly browned. Remove from heat.
In a large pot, heat water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until it is boiling. Add grits and stir until completely combined. Turn heat to low and simmer until the mixture has thickened. This will take about 10 minutes. Add the milk slowly and stir to combine. Add cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in butter chunks. Add about 1/4 cup of the hot mixture to the eggs and stir. Add another 1/4 cup of the mixture and then pour the egg mix into the pot. Add the sausage, peppers, and onion into the mix.
Pour the grits into the greased casserole dish and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until the casserole is set.
