INGREDIENTS:2 Tbsps. vegetable oil
1 cup Tasso ham (Make three days in advance. See recipe that follows.)
12 cups chicken stock
3 cups grits
1 head garlic, roasted
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup green onions, sliced
2 cups Wondra flour
Salt and fresh ground pepper to tasteDIRECTIONS:1. Place vegetable oil in a pan. Cut tasso into small dice and fry until crisp. Remove and set aside.

2. Bring chicken stock to boil and stir in grits. Continue stirring while simmering. After the mixture has thickened considerably, 3 to 5 minutes, stir in roast garlic, grated cheese, green onions and tasso ham crisps. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Pour grits into a greased hotel pan. Refrigerate and chill. Turn chilled grits out and cut into (24) desired shapes. Dust with flour and pan fry. Individually wrap and freeze and pull as needed.SERVINGS:1 hotel pan (24 appetizer portions)