Sauteed Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits with Black Bean Salsa

Had this at Carrie's and it is sooo good I'm trying it out this weekend! Truly Southern cooking!

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup quick-cooking grits, uncooked
3/4 cup chopped smoked Gouda cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 2 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 cup beer
1 tablespoon olive oil
Black Bean Salsa, recipe follows
1/2 cup sour cream
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
12 fresh chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Black Bean Salsa:
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained
2/3 cup picante sauce
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon iodized salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
3 tablespoons chopped green onions



Directions:
Stir together milk and 3/4 cup water in a 1 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Stir in grits, cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly, 9 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter. Pour grits into a lightly greased 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Cover and chill 3 hours or until firm. I recommend overnight.
Combine flour, 2 tablespoons salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Pour beer into a small bowl.
Cut grits into 2-inch squares. Dip grits squares into beer; dredge in flour mixture, repeating procedure twice.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat; stir in 1 tablespoon oil.
Cook grits squares, in batches, in hot butter mixture 5 minutes on each side or until golden, adding butter and oil as needed.
Arrange 3 grits squares in center of 6 individual serving plates.
Spoon Black Bean Salsa evenly over grits squares. Top evenly with sour cream. Sprinkle evenly with tomato, parsley, green onions, and chives.

For the salsa:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic, and saute until tender. Stir in beans and next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in parsley and green onions.