Think risotto or polenta, but funkier. Think texture, and the wholesome goodness and flavor of stone-ground corn. And think Cheese Grits Souffle, Blueberry Grits Muffins, Grits Pizza, and the quintessential dish that's been published in The New York Times: Shrimp and Grits. Bill Neal and David Perry love grits, and in this Passionate cookbook they export grits out of the Southern kitchen-and attempt to demystify the food that's fed a region since the Indians offered John Smith and his Virginia colony steaming bowls of "ustatahamen." Beginning with Basic Boiled Grits, here are 60 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes starring the Southern specialty available in supermarkets nationwide. Grits for breakfast: Cheese Grits and Fried Grits and of course Red-Eye Gravy.