Both kids and adults get excited waking up on Christmas morning . By the time presents are exchanged and the boxes , bows and wrappings picked up , everyone ’ s attention turns toward the kitchen . Holiday brunch doesn ’ t have to be fancy or fussy , but should always include a few family favorites , like these recipes shared by Deweese .
Garlic Cheese Grits
1 cup grits ( uncooked ) 4 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 stick butter 1 6-ounce roll garlic cheese or ( 1 8-ounce block Velveeta cheese + 1 / 2 teaspoon garlic powder ) 1 / 2-pound sharp cheddar cheese , shredded 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees . Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan . Add grits to the boiling water and stir with a whisk . Cover the pot and reduce heat to a simmer , cooking the grits according to the package directions . When done , stir in butter , garlic cheese or Velveeta cheese , sharp cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce until blended . Transfer to a baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes .
Caramelized Bacon Batons
1 pound regular sliced bacon , room temperature 1 1 / 4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ( optional )
Preheat oven to 350 degrees . Cut each slice of bacon in half , crosswise .
In a shallow bowl , mix brown sugar and cinnamon together . Dredge bacon slices in the brown sugar mixture to coat . Twist or spiral slices and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet or broiler pan lined with foil . Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bacon is crisp and dark golden brown . Watch closely as sugar burns quickly . Cool slightly before serving .
The Meridian Restorations Foundation Inc . will host its annual Mimosas & Merrehope fundraising brunch from 10 a . m . until noon on Saturday , Dec . 7 , at the historic home located at 905 Martin Luther King Jr . Dr . Now in its fourth year , the annual fundraiser is a favorite of Merrehope supporters and will feature live entertainment , scrumptious brunch fare , tours of the 56th Annual Trees of Christmas at Merrehope and , of course , mimosas . The tour will feature more than 60 trees and festive exhibits decorated by talented designers from throughout the region . Tickets for Mimosas & Merrehope are $ 50 each and are available by calling Merrehope at 601-483-8439 or by contacting a board or team member . Guests must be 21 or older to attend , and attendance is limited to 60 people . For more information , email merrehopemeridian @ gmail . com .
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