This is my go-to "Fancy" appetizer. Every time I make this delicious treat for a bridal shower, baby shower, or any get-together it always steals the spotlight! This weekend I got to make it for a Baby Shower I hosted for my bosses daughter Joanie. I absolutely love hosting events like this! There were actually 3 of us that coordinated the event and everyone did an amazing job! I posted a few pictures of the event below. This dish would be perfect to bring to a Thanksgiving gathering or any gathering for that matter!!
Ingredients
For the grit crackers
3 cans chicken broth
1 1/3 cups quick-cooking grits
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic power
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
Freshly ground pepper
For the Filling:
1 pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
1 tsp. chopped flat-leaf italian parsley
1/2 pound cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp, chopped
2 tbsp. half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
For the grit crackers:
In a medium sauce pan on high heat, add the chicken broth and 2 tbsp. of butter. Bring to a boil. Add the salt and garlic powder. Whisk in the grits. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes until the grits thicken. Add cheese and stir until combined. Pour the grits onto a greased jellyroll pan or cookie sheet. Refrigerate the grits until they have solidified. About 2 hours ( I make the grits the night before).
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a round cookie cutter. Cut the grits into rounds. Melt 2 tbsp. of butter. Brush both sides of the grit rounds with butter and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn over the grit rounds and bake for an additional 45 minutes.
For the topping:
While the grit rounds are cooking prepare the topping. In a medium sized bowl, combine the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese, parsley, shrimp, half and half and salt and pepper. Top each grit cracker with about a tsp. of the cheesy shrimp mixture. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining cheddar cheese and Bake for 10 minutes.
Slightly Adapted from:
Labels: appetizer
