Weekend Cooking: Martie's Three Cheese Grits

Do you need something quick, easy, and comforting for breakfast or brunch during the holidays? This super fast grits recipe is perfect for Christmas morning or any holiday brunch because it's not only delicious, it's quick to fix and affordable, too.

I call these my 3G grits; they are smooth, creamy, and cheesy good. The 3 G's are: gouda, gruyere, and goat cheese that take these grits from everyday to gourmet. You can use whatever combo of cheeses you have... it's the perfect way to use the leftover cheese you have hanging around in the fridge.

MARTIE'S THREE CHEESE GRITS

Quick cooking grits (you can use regular or gourmet stone-ground grits if you have them)

Butter

Kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper

1/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream (use what's in the fridge)

1/2 cup Gouda, coarsely grated

1/2 cup Gruyere, coarsely grated

1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled

shake cayenne pepper (optional)

Smoked paprika (optional, to lightly sprinkle on top)

Butter a shallow baking dish. Make grits according to package directions. Stir in both peppers, heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter as the grits are almost done. Stir in the cheeses, reserving a bit of each for the top. Stir until the cheese is melted and pour into the buttered dish.

Bake at 425 for 12 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve immediately.

How to Make a Holiday Snowman from Pumpkins!

Meet Joe Snow! Joe was created by our friend and designer, Andy Hopper, for a holiday article in the Birmingham News. We loved Joe...he's not only adorable, he's a very smart use of leftover pumpkins and gourds from Thanksgiving decorating. So, before you toss those pumpkins, get out some spray paint and turn them into holiday decorations! You know I always say that if it takes more than some duct tape and some spray paint, I can't do it. This project is so simple, anyone can do it and it's a fun holiday to-do with the kids!

Make a Pumpkin Snowman

Supplies

3 pumpkins or gourds in varying sizes

twigs for arms

ribbon for scarf

Scotch Super Strong Indoor/Outdoor Mounting Tape

Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Spray Paint in Semi-Gloss White

adhesive for nose

Sharpie, paint, or black marker for eyes, smile, etc

Dixie cup and small paper plate for hat (or find one at a craft store)

Don't use pumpkins or gourds with soft spots. Select three pumpkins in or gourds to stack. Use a heavy duty tape like Scotch Super Strong Interior/Exterior Mounting Tape that will hold up to five pounds to hold the pumpkins together. (You can also use wooden dowels but the pumpkins will deteriorate rapidly.) 

Spray paint the pumpkin with white Krylon Indoor/Outdoor spray paint in Semi-Gloss white. Allow to dry for 1 1/2 hours.

Stack and fit the pumpkins together. Fix the mounting tape to each pumpkin and re-stack. 

Use the stem from a small gourd for the nose.

Draw or paint on Joe's face.

Spray paint a Dixie cup and a small paper plate black; glue together to make hat. Trim with ribbon.

Use a sharp, pointy object like a screwdriver to make a whole in the middle pumpkin for the arms.

Use Joe as a decoration for the buffet or entryway. Sit him on a cake stand like I did here-- surround him with berries, holly, or evergreen... you can make another in red with different accessories to make a holiday Santa!

We'd love to see your creations so send in your holiday decorating pictures to our Facebook page!

Weekend Cocktail: Holiday Double Bubble

One of my favorite go-to drinks is the Double Bubble. A spin on the Mimosa, all you need is a bottle of Prosecco and a bottle of Italian Sparkling Soda. For the holidays, what could be easier? This is perfect for any holiday gathering...  I'd suggest using cranberry or pomegranate sparkling soda. They are not only the flavors of the season, the color is really festive, too.

You can find Italian Sparkling Soda at Target, Whole Foods, Fresh Markets, or World Market stores. Or you can make your own by adding club soda to pomegranate or cranberry juice.

THE HOLIDAY DOUBLE BUBBLE

Chill bottles of cranberry Italian sparkling soda and Prosecco.

Fill a glass with 2/3 sparkling soda. Float Prosecco on the top. You can also add a splash of orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier. 

Garnish with cranberries, or an orange twist and serve.

More great holiday cocktail recipes:

BOURBON HOT TODDY

OATMEAL COOKIE MARTINI

PRALINES N CREAM MARTINI

HOT APPLE PIE TODDY

HOT BUTTERED RUM

...and if you're not already, please follow the Martie Party on Facebook!

Party Bite: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting

Perfect for the holidays! Make up a batch of these with leftover pumpkin or pie filling for the day after Thanksgiving, a triim the tree party, or any other reason you have to get-together this holiday season. Both kids and adults will love these... the crystallized ginger garnish makes them taste just like the holidays!

PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES WITH GINGER CREAM CHEESE ICING

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes w/ Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting on Villeroy & Boch French Garden PlatterMakes 24 cupcakes

3/4 cup butter, softened

2-1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup buttermilk

For the icing:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 cups Confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½  teaspoon crystallized ginger, grated

¼  teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin. Combine the flour, pie spice, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and ginger; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the Confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon; beat until smooth. If you are going to dip or pipe the icing onto the cupcakes, it also helps if the icing is slightly stiff so you may need to add more Confectioners’ sugar to achieve desired results. Grate a little crystallized ginger onto the top of the cupcakes as garnish.

Thanks for the Friends Facebook Giveaway Contest!

Suggest Martie Knows Parties to Facebook friends!We are so thankful to all of our friends for helping us... whether you've shared a link, suggested Martie Knows Parties to your friends, have come to a show, or just follow what we do... I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your support. To say thanks to all of you, I am giving away some goodies from companies I love... just in time for holiday entertaining!

Here's the scoop on how you can help us... and how you can win!

1. Go to MARTIE KNOWS PARTIES ON FACEBOOK.
2. If you haven't already, LIKE our page.
3. Under my photo with the coconut (Bobby Flay gave me that coconut, by the way) click on the SUGGEST TO FRIENDS link. This will pop up a box that you can use to ask your friends.
4. Lastly, LIKE the comment I made about the secret ingredient on Saturday, November 13 or send me a comment. Everyone who does will be in a drawing for these great prizes!Delicious Belle Chevre goat cheese and spreads!

FLIP VIDEO CAMERAS To capture all of the holiday fun! And so easy to use!

AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARDS Just in time for holiday spending!

 BELLE CHEVRE GIFT BOXES You are going to love it! Perfect for holiday entertaining!

A GUY FIERI ERGO CHEF KNIFE As Guy would say, that's "off da hook!"

COUTURE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS So gorgeous! A Christmas keepsake!

and a few more surprises!

 GO TO MARTIE KNOWS PARTIES ON FACEBOOK FOR ALL CONTEST DETAILS!