Snackin’ With Sarah Sellers: ‘Idol’ Season 11 Premiere Night Viewing Nosh

Season 10 "Idol" alum Sarah SellersDiehard "American Idol" viewers will probably remember Sarah Sellers as the geek-chic food blogger who made it to Hollywood Week last season. And Steven Tyler probably still remembers her for her plush, rather Tyler-esque lips. (Watch her Season 10 audition here.) Anyway, since leaving "Idol" last year, Sarah has been whipping up the perfect snack suggestions for any "Idol" party and posting them here exclusively in Reality Rocks, and she's back this season to get your mouth watering on every viewing night.

Sarah serves it up Southern-styleTonight is the big "Idol" premiere, which of course requires hearty fare that'll stick to your ribs for the full two hours. Since the first batch of Season 11 auditions will take place this evening in Savannah, Georgia, Sarah is going with a Southern theme for 2012's "Snackin' With Sarah Sellers" kickoff recipe. "I think this is the most Southern dish I've ever made. I'm combining two of the South's most popular dishes/ingredients: grits and crabmeat!" she says.

So kiss Sarah's grits and dig in!

Grits Cakes with Creamy Crab Dip

▪     2 pieces applewood smoked bacon, chopped
▪     1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
▪     2 cups chicken broth
▪     1 cup milk
▪     2 tbsp butter
▪     1 cup grits
▪     1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
▪     8oz lump crabmeat, shells removed
▪     2 green onions, chopped
▪     1/2 cup lowfat cream cheese, room temperature
▪     1/4 cup light sour cream
▪     1/4 cup light mayonnaise
▪     1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
▪     1 tsp Worcestershire
▪     1/4 tsp paprika
▪     chopped parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large saucepan, sauté the bacon over medium-high heat until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Add the onions to the bacon grease and cook until tender. Remove the onions and set aside.

Add the chicken stock, milk, and butter to the pan and bring to a boil. Slowly add the grits and simmer until cooked through, around 12-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the onions, bacon, and Parmesan.

Spoon the grits into a muffin tin coated with cooking spray. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until lightly golden on top.

While the grits cakes are cooking, carefully remove any loose shells from the crabmeat. In a large bowl combine the crab meat and next seven ingredients.

Remove the grits cakes and carefully remove them from the tins. Top with the crab dip and garnish with the chopped parsley.

Bon appetit!

Check out Sarah's food and music blogs at http://sarahsmusicalkitchen.com/

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Related links:

"Idol's" most memorable castoffs: Where are they now?

More recipe ideas on Yahoo! Shine

More "American Idol" on Yahoo! TV

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