Grits With Ham Hocks And Sauteed Apples

• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 2 1/2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry vermouth
• 6 whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 1 1/3 pounds meaty smoked ham hocks
• 6 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 2 cups quick-cooking grits
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• 1 1/2 cups grated extra-sharp white cheddar cheese, divided
• Chopped fresh thyme (for garnish)

1. Preheat oven to 325u0b0F. Melt butter in large ovenproof pot over high heat. Add onions and next 3 ingredients; saute until vegetables are soft and golden, about 7 minutes. Add vermouth and next 3 ingredients; stir 1 minute. Add chicken broth and ham hocks. Bring to boil; cover and bake until ham hocks are very tender, about 1 hour. Cool.
2. Remove ham hocks. Boil ham hock broth until reduced to 1 cup, about 25 minutes. Pull ham from bones and reserve (discard bones and skin). Strain broth. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover ham and broth separately; chill.)
3. Preheat oven to 350u0b0F. Bring chicken broth to boil in large saucepan. Gradually whisk in grits. Add 2 teaspoons minced thyme. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until grits are thick and smooth, whisking frequently, about 7 minutes.
4. Stir reserved ham, Sauteed Apples, and 1 cup cheddar cheese into grits. Transfer mixture to 13x9x2-inch oval baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake until cheese is golden, about 30 minutes. Rewarm ham hock broth. Garnish grits with chopped thyme and serve, drizzling broth over.

butter, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaf, lowsalt, ham hocks, lowsalt, quickcooking grits, thyme, cheddar cheese, fresh thyme

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grits-with-ham-hocks-and-sauteed-apples-232696 (may not work)