Boil the water - easy so far, right? - and add 1 can of chicken broth, half-and-half, and salt. Gradually whisk in the grits. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened (about 10 minutes or so). Add Cheddar cheese and next 4 ingredients. Keep warm. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet. Sprinkle shrimp with pepper and salt; dredge in flour. Sauté mushrooms in hot drippings in skillet 5 minutes or until tender. Add green onions, and sauté 2 minutes. Add shrimp and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes or until shrimp are lightly brown. Stir in the 1/2 cup chicken broth, lemon juice, and hot sauce, and cook 2 more minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Serve shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits. Top with crumbled bacon; serve with lemon wedges.
Yield: 4 servings

MEAT LOAF WITH NO GREEN PEPPER

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine beef, crumbs, and milk; add seasonings, Worcestershire, onion, and parsley flakes. Mix well. If you'd like to dress up your loaf, slice the ends off of eggs, fit together and place in middle of loaf. (The slices look pretty when cut with this egg center.) Shape meat in loaf around eggs and place in baking pan. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how well-done you wish your beef. Serves 6 to 8.

CHICKEN-VEGGIE PIE

Mix together chicken broth, soup and vegetables. Don't add all broth at once; adjust to appropriate thickness. Add about 1 1/2 tsps. dried dill if you like it; also, green onions or even just their tops add flavor. Spread mixture evenly in greased casserole large enough for crust to rise when cooked. Mix together flour, milk and melted butter. Pour evenly over chicken mixture. Bake about 45 minutes at 400 degrees or until crust is golden brown.

LUELLYN'S SKILLET MACARONI DINNER

Cook beef in hot oil in large cook-and-serve skillet (Corning ware is good) until browned. Add onions, tomatoes, corn and macaroni and cook about 30 min. covered (or until macaroni is tender), chopping tomatoes with side of spoon and stirring occasionally so it won't stick. Stir in chili powder, garlic salt. Sprinkle with cheese and heat covered 5 minutes (at this point, you can remove from heat and let cheese melt or turn heat down a bit, otherwise, cheese separates). Serve in skillet.

LASAGNA LOVER'S LASAGNA

Sauce

Cheese Mixture

In large skillet, brown ground beef with onion in oil. Drain off fat. Add tomatoes and break up with fork. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, wine, water, 2 tbs. parsley, basil, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. salt and pepper. Stir until smooth. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 1 hr. or until mixture is the consistency of spaghetti sauce. To prepare cheese mixture, mix cottage cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 tbs. parsley flakes, 1 1/2 tsps. salt and 1 tsp. oregano. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup sauce. Layer 1/3 of the noodles, meat sauce and cheese mixture; repeat two times. Finish up with meat sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover top with mozzarella cheese slices. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes. Remove foil for the last 15 minutes to allow browning. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Serves 6.

MONKEY BREAD

Cut each biscuit into fours and roll in your own mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Layer 1 can on bottom of Bundt pan which you've already sprayed with Pam. Cover biscuits with 1/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans are good). Add second layer of biscuits. Melt 1/2 cup butter and mix with 1/4 cup nuts, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes.

SIMPLE SPINACH A LA GOURMET

Cook spinach according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain well. Combine spinach with mushrooms, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and butter. Thin sour cream with cream; add to spinach mixture and heat just to boil. Serve immediately. 4 servings.

HAPPY HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Put all ingredients except boiling water in blender. Cover. Turn dial to speed 3 and blend until thoroughly mixed. Remove insert from lid. Add boiling water slowly through insert opening. Blend a few seconds longer. Pour sauce into top part of double boiler and cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and coats the spoon.

GRANDMA'S LETTUCE SALAD