Fried Grit Cakes With Eggs And Tomato Gravy

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 1/2 cups grits, cooked and cooled
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup bacon grease or 1/4 cup canola oil and 1/4 cup country ham drippings
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (12 ounce) can chopped tomatoes or 12 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• salt
• pepper
• 16 ounces country ham or 16 ounces canadian bacon, cooked in a skillet
• 8 eggs, fried

Recipe

• 1 take the grits after they have cooled and mix in the parmesan cheese and garlic powder. add some cayenne pepper if you like things hot! spread the mixture on a large baking sheet. place in the refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes.
• 2 take a large biscuit or cookie cutter (you can use shaped ones for the holidays!) and cut out the grit mix.
• 3 place 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp pepper, and 1/2 cup all purpose flour in a small bowl and mix well. pour onto a plate and press the grit cakes into the flour to coat both sides.
• 4 in a skillet over medium heat add the oil to cover the bottom. when the oil is hot but not smoking, drop in the grit cakes, browning both sides. remove and reserve.
• 5 cook the country ham or canadian bacon in another skillet, just until browned. remove and place on a paper towel to absorb the grease.
• 6 leave 1/2 cup grease in the skillet for the tomato gravy. (you can use bacon grease instead). heat the ham or bacon grease over medium high heat. add 2 tbsp all purpose flour and stir until well mixed, about 1 minute. add 1 cup milk and stir until it boils. add the tomatoes and return to a boil. add the salt and pepper to taste. if it is too thick, add some water and stir.
• 7 meanwhile, fry your eggs in the skillet you cooked the grit cakes inches
• 8 to assemble, place two cooked grit cakes on a plate. place a slice of ham or canadian bacon on top of each grit cake. place a gried egg on top of the ham or canadian bacon. ladle the tomato gravy over the top and enjoy.