Recipe(tried): Grillades - Bridal Shower Brunch Ideas - Serve mimosas!

Susan, By all means, serve mimosas! I am also doing a wedding brunch and I'm serving champagne/mimosas/sparkling water, Grillades (traditional beef stew served in the South for brunch) and cheese grits, French bread, Green salad with classic vinaigrette, fruit salad.

GRILLADES (Freezes well)
Source: Le Bonne Cuisine Cook Book

4 lbs beef rounds, trimmed of fat
1/2 cup bacon grease (If you only have 1/4 cup of bacon grease add olive or canola oil)
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped bell pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16oz) can tomatoes
1 tsp thyme
1 cup water (I use 1/2 water, 1/2 either beef or chicken broth)
1 cup dry red wine (remember, the better the wine, the better the dish)
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp Tabasco
2 Tbsp Worcestershire
1/4 cup chopped parsley

Using a mallet flatten meat to 1/4 inch thick and then cut meat into serving size pieces.

In a Dutch oven heat 1/4 cup of bacon grease over med. Heat. Add the meat and fry until brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

To the Dutch oven add remaining bacon grease and the flour, stirring constantly, until the roux is dark brown.

To the roux add the onion, green onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic and saut until soft.

Add the tomatoes and thyme and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the water, wine and mushrooms, and stir well. Simmer two hours.

Remove the bay leaves and stir in the parsley.

The cheese grits recipe I used is on the back of the large bag of grits.

Good luck, Penny