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1
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
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2
Add a bit of white pepper and a pinch of cayenne to the shrimp. On three plates, lay out season flour, the beaten egg. Add the cornmeal to the third plate, or, if you prefer, a large plastic zip lock bag. Drag through the flour, egg wash, and bathe in cornmeal using your preferred method.
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3
While the shrimp are basking in the cornmeal, focus on the grits.
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4
For this recipe, cook the grits as directed on the package, approximately 12-14 minutes. Just like pasta, remember to salt the water. About a teaspoon will do.
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5
While the grits are cooking away, add the oil to a medium hot pan and fry shrimp on each side for 3-4 minutes. As they come out of the pan, remove them to a foil-lined cookie sheet and place in the oven to keep warm
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6
This should bring you close to your final cheddar cheese approach with the grits. Around minute 11 or 12, grate about a cup of cheddar cheese and a crack or two of Mrs. P (pepper, for the uninitiated). Stir the grated cheese into the grits until it starts to blend completely into the grits. While stirring, notice that the grits continue to emit starch and take on water, becoming more porridge like by the moment. Don't over stir the grits. Grits don't do well when they're over agitated. They tend to stiffen, which isn't what we're looking for. We want a nice, creamy, cheesy, happy grit.
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7
As this comes together to a consistency of your liking, remove the shrimp from the oven. Add grits to the plat or to a bowl, and top with as many shrimp as you'd like. I added about 5-7 per plate. Serve with something green. I chose asparagus, which accompanied the dish nicely.
