True story: our next door neighbors (Scott & Tammy) came *this* close to buying our house before we did. Yep. The layout wasn’t quite right for them either though, so instead, they built an almost identical house on the lot to the left of ours. They added an extra bedroom downstairs, and fixed the funky master bathroom layout upstairs, and instead of a sunroom, they use that room as a dining room at their place. Here’s a photo of Tammy in her kitchen:
Her kitchen layout is identical to ours, and I had so much fun hanging out with her over there while she cooked this week!
She made her famous cajun shrimp and grits recipe, and I photographed the whole thing so that we could share it with you today!
First up, Tammy made the grits. To make them, she combined grits, butter, salt, water, heavy cream, four different kinds of cheese, and white pepper.
Mmmm…four cheeses… 🙂
After that, she made the cajun shrimp by combining fresh jumbo shrimp, smoked sausage, fresh parsley, diced tomatoes & chilies, minced garlic, cajun seasoning and olive oil:
Man was my mouth was watering while she was plating it up for my final photo!
Tammy owns a catering business called A Catered Affair, and Kevin and I LOVE it when they fire up their BBQ grill out back. Makes the whole block smell so good! Now if only we could learn to cook and grill like them, too- ha!
I think her shrimp and grits recipe is a good place for us to start, and if you’d like to try it too, just print out the recipe card below:
Ingredients
- Grits:
- 1 cup grits
- 3 cups water
- 1 TBS salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1-1/2 cups cheese: cheddar, smoked gouda, pepper jack, parmesan
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp white pepper
- Cajun shrimp:
- 1-1/2 lbs fresh jumbo shrimp
- 1 cup sliced smoked sausage, (I used Conecuh sausage)
- 2 TBS chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup diced tomatoes & chilies, drained (I used Rotel tomatoes)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 TBS cajun seasoning
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Grits:
- Boil 3 cups water & salt.
- Add grits & butter.
- Simmer on low for 10 minutes or until thickened.
- Add heavy cream & cheeses.
- Whisk until blended.
- Add extra salt, if needed.
- Shrimp:
- Peel, de-vein, & take tail off shrimp.
- Heat olive oil in stainless steel wok or skillet.
- Add shrimp, sausage & parsley.
- Cook until shrimp is pink.
- Add garlic and tomatoes.
- Cook until heated.
- Add cajun seasoning.
- To serve:
- Pour cheese grits onto the center of a plate.
- Add cajun shrimp on top of the grits.
- Garnish with parsley sprigs.
- (Sauvignon Blanc wine makes a nice companion to this dish.)
Good luck, and happy cookin’!
PS- Tammy said this recipe makes 4 servings, and that you could leave off the cajun seasoning if you want to tone it down a little. 🙂
My mom makes her shrimp and grits almost the same way but she makes cajun gravy to go with it. I am going to try this non-gravy version. Can’t wait 🙂
I”ve never tried the Cajun version. This recipe sounds like a winner!
Loving the grey colour on Tammy’s wall. Any chance you could sneakily find out the make and shade?
xxx
Hannah,
Thank you, I love the gray, too.
It’s Benjamin Moore, Phoenix Fossil 517-5.
I was afraid it was going to be too dark, but it worked!
Tammy catered my wedding and everything was divine. She is so talented!
Julie,
Thank you!!!!
Just wondering if Tammy would share what she would serve with the Shrimp and Grits. Bananas Foster makes a nice dessert, but I’m not sure what to do for an appetizer and side/ salad for a Cajun-inspired dinner. Thanks!
Terry,
For a side dish, I would keep it light & simply. Especially if you do
Bananas Foster(my favorite), it’s rich and flavorful. It will still be a Cajun-inspired meal even if every dish is not Cajun. My favorite would be grilled asparagus or a green salad full of veggies.
These look amazing! Pinned and definitely now on my ‘to try’ list.
Mmmmm! Love shrimp and grits!
oh wow. shrimp and grits is my favorite meal to eat whenever i am in the south. i have been known to eat it every day when i have the pleasure of traveling south. but now…well, now i just might attempt it at home. wish me luck!
Layla,
Thank you for sharing the story and cooking photos with us!
Tammy,
Thanks for sharing your recipe and wisdom with us. I can’t wait to try this out on my family!
I have been waiting to try this at home – I usually only get something similar when I’m eating OUT! Sounds AMAZING!!
PS Love her backsplash (tiny rocks) : )
What nice neighbors you have! Thank you for sharing Tammy with us and thanks to her for sharing the recipe : )
Oh that sounds and looks delicious! I love grits, even though I’m a girl from up north. Shrimp, sausage and grits are in my future. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I made my first shrimp and grits a few weeks ago from Pinterest, but it didn’t have the smoked sausage.
I can’t wait to try her recipe!
thanks!
This would be a first for me to try. But it looked so good I’ll have to give it a go. Hope mine tastes as good as you made hers look! 🙂
Her kitchen is beautiful but not as beautiful as her smile. And that recepie! Tone it down; no way baby. I’m making that for dinner and using every bit of that Cajun spice.
Ha, ha. Not many dishes up north have grits in the name 😉 Sounds like a true southern classic! 🙂
Yum, one of my favorite dishes!
Oh my word…I want some now! 🙂
Can we please see more of Tammy’s house?! I love the textures and colors of her kitchen, the pots on a “towel bar” and the wreath on a ladder you just get a glimps of in the hallway.
You can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be heading back over there with my camera again, Susan- LOL! 😀
Aren’t you having fun in your new neighborhood with all your neighbors! How nice. This looks delicious. What torture to smell such stuff coming from next door all the time. I don’t have a grill and when my neighbors fire their’s up…I have to say I’m a little jealous. I’ve pinned this recipe though just in case I ever get a grill…might happen. A company might contact me and ask me to blog about it in exchange for a grill and then I’d need this recipe!
Oh, no grill necessary for this recipe, Nita! Just a stove top and you’re all set! 🙂
Is there a possibility to get the name of the paint that was used on the wall where the pots are hanging? It looks like s grey.
Rachel,
Thank you! It is gray.
It’s Benjamin Moore, Phoenix Fossil 517-5.
My mouth is salivating!!!!!
Layla, I love your blog and decorating style. Thanks for this delicious recipe and the easy way to print it. Can’t wait to try it.
Thank you!!!!
Thanks Layla….I enjoyed this dish in Tenn last fall and have wanted to try it myself. What a treat to have a GREAT cook right next door. Thank Tammy for sharing her recipe with us. I can’t wait to try it!
Made it tonight and loved it. Thank you for sharing and see you in October!
I LOVE how Tammy used stones for her backsplash–I’ve never seen that done before. I sure wish I would have–we just finished remodeling our kitchen last summer and our tumbled marble backsplash isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. 🙂 Lovely home.
Would Conecuh sausage work for this recipe?
Alison,
Is there any other kind! lol
Yes, use Conecuh it’s great sausage!!!
Let me know how it turns out!
Oh my gosh, I just realized that you actually suggested it in the ingredient list. I just broke rule #1 of cooking…always read the recipe well before beginning! :/
What is this sausage. Not familiar with the name. Thank You.
I had grits for the first time ever a few weeks ago in a southern style restaurant here in Glasgow. What actually are they? Is there a UK equivalent? I found the texture a bit odd to start with, but I think something you grow to love. I had shrimps with grit too! Everyone wanted to try it. It’s just not something you get over here.
x
pretty close to polenta which you may be more familiar with?
I LOVE her haircut!
That’s what I’d love to do with mine, but I’m not sure it would work.
My hair is so straight and thin… Tammy’s looks like it has some body to it.
I’m SO printing a picture of her and taking it to my stylist, though, just in case!
Cool backsplash!
I photographed a wedding in Montgomery a few years ago that these guys catered. It was the absolute best, hands down. I remember grilled lamb that was the most succulent I’ve ever had. They are THE BEST!
Shared this recipe with my grits loving husband who likes to cook upon occasion. Oh, lucky me! We enjoyed it so very much last night and again tonight! It was wonderful. I can’t comfortably digest chili peppers any more so he did not use the Rotels, just regular. The dish was absolutely delicious!!! Thank you so much for sharing it. Think we may vary with Italian sausage and some scallions another time.Congrats to your neighbor & thank her please for sharing it as well. Know it will be a favorite “go to.”
Layla, Thanks for the post.
Tammy, Wow!! Now I know what I’m eating for gameday on Saturday. I’m so excited. Thanks for sharing your dish and your beautiful house. I can’t wait to see more!!!
I made this yesterday, and followed the recipe exactly. Words cannot describe how amazing this dish is.
Tammy, can my wife and I and our two kids come live with you?
In all seriousness, I’ll be anxiously waiting for more recipes from this culinary genius, and if she ever makes a cookbook, I’ll be the first to buy it.
PS @ Layla
I’ve been following you blog for awhile, and I love it. I was wondering if you guys had a way to donate to your adoption fund? My wife and I love helping people that are trying to adopt.
I know this is an older post, but I was just wondering if that is 1-1/2 cups cheese TOTAL?
I want to make this for a holiday brunch party. I think it will be a hit!
Thank you!