Single-Serving Shrimp and Grits

I've had the idea for this dish for a while, but just got around to making it. I don't know why it took me so long because the actual recipe cooks up in less than 15 minutes.

This single girl/poor college kid/quick dinner dish totally elevates all the scenarios I just mentioned. It's gourmet, cheap but super easy and definitely fits the bill for a satisfying dinner. Or brunch if you want to get fancy on a lazy Sunday morning.

I recently discovered you can buy a box of instant grits just like instant oatmeal. Microwave oatmeal is a regular part of my daily routine, but now grits, oooooh man! Growing up I remember mom always asking, grits or oatmeal? It was always the decision between sweet or savory? Really because I would either douse my grits with a pound of butter or my oatmeal with a cup of brown sugar. The only problem was that I had to wait near 20 minutes for my breakfast to be ready. I don't have that kind of patience anymore, so hello to instant grits!

Microwave grits, a little cheese and some frozen corn and shrimp make for an ulti single girl meal! The recipe is clearly for a single serving, but it would be super easy to double or triple.

Single Serving Shrimp and Grits
serves one..obviously

Ingredients:
1 package of instant grits
some type of cheese-Parmesan, Gouda, cheddar etc.
1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
6 frozen or fresh shrimp
1/4 cup frozen corn
fresh minced garlic
cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
juice of 1/4 lemon
fresh cilantro

Directions:
If using frozen, make sure to first thaw your shrimp. I do this by running them under luke warm water until thawed.

Heat your olive oil or butter in a small pan over medium heat. Add your corn and shrimp to the pan, throw in some garlic and a little bit of cayenne. Don't go to crazy on the cayenne, unless you like things spicy spicy! While your shrimp is cooking, microwave the grits according to package directions. It's probably something like add 1/2 cup of water and microwave for 1 minute.

Stir in the cheese and season your grits with salt and pepper to taste. (I like mine really salty!) By now your shrimp should be cooked though. Take off the heat and squeeze lemon juice over the shrimp.

Pile the shrimp and corn over your cheese grits and garnish with chopped cilantro!