I love south eastern coastal towns. To me, they are filled with the most inviting and peaceful landscapes on earth. I often picture myself freshly showered with damp hair which was minimally brushed with the expectation that the salt air would take control of it anyway, wearing a white sundress and walking down a sandy boardwalk at dawn. As the sea grass identifies the direction of the wind and the waves reinforce it, I begin to think. My mind wanders into space.

As I reach the end of the board walk and start walking down the beach, I climb to the top of the wooden life guard stand and have a seat. I begin to observe my surroundings. The beach is graced with the families that are soaking in every minute on the shoreline. They still have their umbrellas, beach balls and chairs out and it is clear they have been relocated a dozen times based on the changing of tides. There are also new and old couples walking hand in hand waiting on the increased romance that a sunset over the ocean delivers. There are grandparents and their grandchildren filling sand buckets with sea shells and a few frat boys playing Bocce Balls getting just a little too rowdy.

At this point, I take a giant breath and think to myself “Where am I going to go to eat some Shrimp and Grits?” After all, south eastern coastal towns specialize in their Shrimp and Grits and being a girl who consumes an average of two bowls of grits a day, this dish is right up my alley.

Shrimp and Scallops and Grits

Serves 4

Total Price- $12.08

Total Price per Person- $3.02

Average Retail Price- $25.23

Total Savings- $13.15

Ingredients

– 1 small onion-cubed

– ½ red pepper -cubed

– ½ green pepper- cubed

– 10inches Andouille sausage- cubed

– 12 medium-large shrimp

– 12 sea scallops

– 1/2 can beef consume

– 1 ½ cup of water

– ½ package Au jus mix

– 1 tbsp garlic- minced

– 2 tbsp oil

– 2 tbsp butter

– 4 servings of grits

Directions

1. Combine 1/2 packet of au jus mix with 1/2 the suggested cold water on the packet

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large saute pan or pot over medium high heat

3. Place chopped onion, pepper, garlic, and sausage in the pot and cook for 8-10 minutes stirring often

4. Add 1/2 can beef consume, 1 cup of the au jus mix, and 1/2 cup of water to the pot, bring to a boil

5. Reduce the liquid by 2/3 until it thickens

6. Taste the sauce and add water 1/4 cup at a time if it is too salty for your taste.  This is a salty dish and the bland grits will help to delude the salt

7. Heat the remaining oil and butter in a large saute pan over high heat

8. Sear the scallops and shrimp, turning once, and set aside

9. Cook 4 servings of grits and separate into bowls

10. Pour the sauce evenly into the bowls, and top with shrimp and scallops

11. Serve immediately

Sales used in this recipe-

Costco- Kirkland’s brand shrimp- $15.99/6 lbs frozen

Costco- Kirkland’s brand sea scallops- $21.99/ 4lbs frozen

*** (I can honestly say that the frozen shrimp and scallops at Costco are as good as any I have had and the savings are HUGE)***

Ingles- Au jus package- BOGO

Ingles- Beef Consume- BOGO