Make the grits as follows:  
6 cups water 
salt to taste
1 1/2 cups old fashioned grits or polenta
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
8 T butter
Fresh black pepper, cayenne or hot sauce to taste. Don't get crazy here because the shrimp sauce is spicy as well. 

In a large sauce pan, bring water to a boil.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the grits and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.  When the grits thicken, add the milk, cream and butter and return to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook, stirring often, for 30-45 minutes until the grits are tender, smooth and creamy,  Taste and adjust seasonings. Keep covered until ready to serve.  

Make the shrimp as follows:
1 lb of uncooked shrimp peeled and deveined.
3/4 lb good quality andouille sausage, chopped into large dice
6 slices good quality bacon
Cajun Seasoning
Vegetable oil or butter for sautéing
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic or more to taste
1 - 1 1/2 cups Nan's Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix.  
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 T finely chopped green onions for garnish
2 T minced parsley for garnish

Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning and salt to taste, set aside.  Cut bacon into lardons and render.  Reserve the bacon drippings.  Heat a large sauce pan over medium high heat and render the andouille, about 3 minutes.  Remove andouille, add shrimp to the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes.  Don't over cook the shrimp, remove from pan.  Heat the oil, butter and reserved bacon fat, add onion and peppers and cook until soft.  Add 1 T of cajun seasoning to the pan stirring well to release the flavors, add the garlic and cook 1 minute being careful not to burn the garlic.  Add Nan's, bring to simmer and reduce for about 5 minutes.  Stir in cream, return andouille and bacon to the pan.  Simmer to reduce to your liking.  Add the shrimp and warm through.  Serve over the grits.  

This is a meatless pasta sauce that uses both Nan's and your favorite vodka.  It is a lighter sauce but it is very flavorful and pairs well with a delicate pasta such as angel hair. Cook your pasta to al dente and reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, add a bit to the sauce, the starch from the pasta will help thicken the sauce.

1 T olive oil
3/4 cup of finely chopped onion
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 cup good vodka
4 cups Nan's Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix And Recipe Boost
3 T chopped basil (about 20 leaves)
1-2 T chopped oregano
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teas white or black pepper to taste
1/2 teas cayenne pepper, optional

Heat oil and sauté onion until soft but not brown.  Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, do not burn.  Add vodka, bring to a boil and reduce to a third.  Add the Nan's, basil and oregano.  Bring to a simmer, add cream and cheese and serve with pasta.  Garnish with additional basil and cheese,  Enjoy!

I love tomato soup, particularly with a grilled cheese sandwich.  This is a classic recipe that has a great flavor and spice.  Make it gluten free by using a gluten free flour.  

3 T butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 T Flour
2 cups homemade or lower sodium chicken broth
2 cups Nan's Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix And Recipe Boost
2 cups tomatoes, whole, diced or puree
1 1/2 teas sugar
1-3 springs fresh thyme
1/2 teas white or black pepper to to taste

Heat butter until melted, add onion and sauté until soft but not brown.  Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute being careful not to burn.  Add flour and stir for about 2-3 minutes.  Add broth, Nan's, sugar, thyme and pepper.  Bring to a simmer, lower heat, cover and simmer for about 40 minutes stirring occasionally.  Discard thyme sprigs, puree soup with an immersion blender.  Enjoy!

Nan was inspired by her visit to Sloppy Joe's in Key West and the great Sloppy Joe she had so, she had to come up with a similar recipe at home. For ease of preparation, I use my small food processor to chop the veggies in this dish.  This is really good!  

1 T olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 lbs ground beef or turkey
1/2 ketchup
1 T worcestershire sauce
2 cups Nan's Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix And Recipe Boost
1 T red wine vinegar
1 T brown sugar
1 pinch of ground clove
1/2 teas dried thyme
1 pinch of cayenne pepper or to taste
Black pepper to taste
4 hamburger buns

​Heat oil, add carrots, celery and onion and sauté for 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, be careful not to burn the garlic.  Remove vegetables to a bowl.  In the same pan, add 1/2 teas salt, brown meat adding oil if necessary.  Return vegetables to pan, add ketchup, Nan's, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and brown sugar.  Stir, add ground clove, thyme and cayenne.  Simmer for 30 minutes, adjust seasonings if need and serve on buns.  Enjoy!

This is a perfect weekday meal as it is quick and easy.  You can multiply the recipe and freeze the meat for other meals.  A great appetizer option is to prepare the meat and put it in a scoop type tortilla chip, top with lettuce or slaw and a creamy dressing of your choice.  Yum!

1 lb ground beef or turkey
3 T minced onion
2 T chili powder
3/4 cup Nan's Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix And Recipe Boost
1 teas garlic powder or 1 clove of garlic minced
1/4 teas ground chipotle pepper

Brown meat and onion until meat is cooked through. Add chili powder and stir for 1 minute to release flavors. Add remaining ingredients and cook until thickened to your liking.  Serve in your favorite shell or tortilla with garnishes such as sour cream, scallions, tomatoes and cheese.  Enjoy!

This is a delicious chili that everyone enjoys.  This is easily modified for individual tastes.  It uses bratwurst as the protein, you can play it up with different flavors of brats and beans.  There are tons of veggies in this chili so it is packed full of good fiber and vitamins.  

​​1/4 cup of Olive Oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups of chopped green pepper
1 1/2 cups of chopped celery
3 cloves Minced Garlic
6 links of bratwurst, casings removed
2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper or to taste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes
2 cups Nan's Original
2 16 oz cans of kidney beans undrained
1 6 oz can of tomato paste

Heat oil, sauté onion, green pepper, celery until just softened.  Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, be careful not to burn.  Add brats, breaking up the meat until no longer pink.  Add cumin, ground ginger, black Pepper and cayenne, cook for 1-2 minutes to release the flavors of the spices.  Add the rest of the ingredients, simmer covered for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.  Garnish with shredded cheese and sour cream,  Enjoy!

Tapenade is a quick and easy appetizer using things typically found in your pantry.  Serve it on crackers or crudités. If you have leftovers, the tapenade can be added to a pasta salad, tuna salad, chicken salad... use your imagination!   

1 cup black olives
1 cup green olives
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 T chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 T thyme leaves or 1 t dried thyme
1/2 T chopped flat leaf parsley
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Nan's Naughty And Nice Spicy Bloody Mary Mix

Put all ingredients except for the olive oil and Nan’s in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse until finely chopped.  Turn out into a bowl and add the oil and Nan’s.  Stir until incorporated.  Adjust seasoning to taste.  Enjoy!