Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients:

• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 4 cups water
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in grits and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from skillet and set aside, reserving the bacon grease in the skillet.
3. In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic in the bacon grease until tender. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes or until pink. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
4. Whisk flour into the remaining bacon grease in the skillet until well combined. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
5. Return shrimp and bacon to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Cook until heated through.
6. Serve shrimp and sauce over the cooked grits. Garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired.