The Most Amazing Cheesy Grits

I just discovered how to make the most amazing cheesy grits ever.  Seriously!  Just until recently I had always used either milk or half water and half cream...which is fine...I would usually get complimented on my grits, as it can be hard to find a good place to get them in our neck of the, "woods".  We may be south, but we are south Florida...known for sunny days, palm trees and beaches, but southern cooking...ehhhh...not so much.  But my brother was over and we were cooking, which we both love to do, and he was in charge of the grits.  I couldn't believe how delicious they were!  The secret, you ask???  He used a chicken base!  (Chicken broth, chicken stock...I'm not sure you can really taste the difference unless, perhaps, you have a very refined pallet.)  Now I know people have heard using a chicken base for rice, potatoes, soups even!  But have you ever tried it in grits?  It seriously makes for the best. grits. ever. Period!  (Exclamation Point!)

Step 1:  Gather all of your ingredients.

Grits is the obvious ingredient.  BUT...TAKE NOTE!!!  As noted in the movie "My Cousin Vinny", "No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits. I take pride in my grits."  Ha! Ha! Ha!  OK! OK!  Of course you can use instant grits...I just use the old fashioned grits.  Of course it'll just change your cooking time, hence, instant.  :)  I am a big fan of sharp cheddar cheese in my cheesy grits, but really you can use any kind of cheese you like.  My absolute fave chicken base to use is this:

It is by far the absolute best condensed chicken product I've used!  So rich!  I was a little taken back because I didn't know what to expect...so here is a heads up!

I also use their beef and their vegetable flavors and I won't use anything else now!  

Step 2:  Start boiling 1 cup of water in a small pot and add a half of a tablespoon of the chicken base.  *You can use the chicken bouillon or chicken granules, just follow the directions on the container.*  

Cover and let cook on low for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add 1/4 cup of water and stir again adding in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of cheese, depending on how cheesy you would like it to be.  

Make sure it is all stirred and add a pat of butter on top, approximately 1/3 tablespoon, cover with the lid and let it cook on low for about 3-5 minutes.  

TRY it!  *Be careful!  It will be very hot!*  But TRY it!  Some people like it to be smoother than others and you can always let it cook more.  If you decide you want it to cook a bit longer and see that it is starting to look dry, add 1/4 cup of water, stir in, and keep lid on while it is on low.  You will get perfect cheesy grits!

When people think about grits I think that people often think of them as a breakfast food...or maybe I say that because you can find them in the breakfast/cereal isle!  But they really aren't!!!  Grits can be used in a lot of different ways!  You can eat them for breakfast, you can serve them at a fish fry, they can be used to plate shrimp or even pork chops on top of!  

The possibilities are endless...