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1
Pour the milk into a large saucepan with the salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Sprinkle in the grits, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
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2
Uncover the grits, and add 1 1/2 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese and the hot pepper sauce, beating the mixture with a spoon until the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth. Cover the cheese grits and set them aside to firm up.
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3
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the shrimp, and toss them in the hot oil for about 3 minutes, until the shrimp just turn pink and opaque. Stir in the garlic powder and diced tomatoes with chile peppers, and set the shrimp mixture aside.
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4
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and spray a 7x11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place about 1 cup of shrimp mixture in the bottom of the dish, followed by 1 cup of cheese grits in a layer. Continue layering shrimp and grits, and top the final layer with 1 cup Cheddar cheese.
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5
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the cheese topping is bubbling and beginning to brown. Let the casserole set for about 10 minutes before serving.
