Ingredients

• 4 cups water

• 1 cup milk or half-and-half

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 1/4 cups stone ground grits

• 2 ears white sweet corn

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

• 6 slices bacon

• 1 onion, diced

• 4 green onions, divided

• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced

• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

• 4 ounces okra, thinly sliced

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 2 cloves garlic

• 2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced

• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles

• 2 cups chicken stock

• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar

• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste (optional)

• 2 cups peanut oil or other vegetable oil for frying

• 3 large eggs

• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced

• chopped parsley for garnish (optional)