Five Things I Learned About Myself Last Week
by Joy Wilson
My Los Angeles style of driving will piss many people off outside of Los Angeles.
When traveling, I will take an unreasonable, and possibly troubling amount of travel-sized toiletries with me no matter the duration of the trip.
I so so soooo want to be the girl that’s awesome at Frisbee football…. but I’m totally just not.
I’m stubborn. I practice. I’ll totally be good at Frisbee football one day.
In a canoe in the ocean? I’ll jump out. You won’t even have to dare me. Life is short and the water is warm.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I’ll score a 2.2 in gracefulness returning my body back to the canoe. Whatever. Remember that part about life being short. Yea. Exactly.
Some people might feel like a bikini top is a suitable shirt…. but I’m pretty sure it just feels like wearing a bra in public. That’s just me.
When on vacation is a warm place with tropical fruits and fresh fish… I’ll most likely be thinking about cheese grits and my monster kitten. I dunno.
I’m glad to be back in the kitchen.
I missed you. Seriously. I don’t care if you look at me strangely.
I’m back in the kitchen with butter and corn… and I’m no stranger to grits. Remember that Shrimp and Grits dish I made? Insane!
These grits are just a bit different. They’re mixed with sweet, fresh corn and a big ol’ chunk of soft goat cheese. Goat cheese melts down in the hot grits, creating an irresistibly creamy dish. Fresh corn adds little bits and bites of sweetness.
This is a dreamy summer dish. Pair grits with a fried egg for breakfast, OR with ribs or barbecue chicken is you’re feeling dinnery. Seriously… delicious!
Fresh Corn and Goat Cheese Grits
makes 6 small portions, or 3 main portions
adapted from Bobby Flay
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup stone-ground grits
1/3 cup chopped scallions
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 2 or 3 ears of corn)
black pepper
4 ounces goat cheese
fresh chopped parsley
Place a medium sauce over medium heat. Add butter and cook down until butter is browned. Add milk and water and bring mixture to a boil. Add the grits while stirring and reduce heat to a simmer. Add salt. Cook grits, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until medium thick. This may take about 20 minutes.
Heat olive oil in a separate medium skillet. Add scallions and cook for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic and corn, top w 1/2 teaspoon salt and a hearty pinch of black pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until corn is slightly browned, warmed, and softened slightly.
Add cooked corn mixture and goat cheese to the hot, cooked grits. Stir until goat cheese is melted and incorporated into the grits.
Top with chopped parsley and serve immediately with a fried egg or delicious barbecued food.
Mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and reheated on the stove top with a splash of water and milk.
Zoë
The boyfriend doesn’t like goat cheese. Do you think this would work using cream cheese to finish it? Or would you have another suggestion?
Fanya
Ok you win. I made this according to direction except I skipped parsley. It taste good, but not fantastic, so I decided it’s a no since it uses multiple dishes…….until I found myself standing beside the fridge at 11pm eating this cold grits with hard boiled eggs and slightly pickled celery…and I couldn’t stop until I finished half of the bowl.
It looks like it keeps well. I will have to double it next time I make it.
Seanna Lea
I’m currently dealing with the summer of corn with our CSA, so anything that can use multiple ears of corn is on my list. Yeah!
Trish
Made it again tonight. Couldn’t help it. And with the boyfriend and roommates gone for a few days, it’s just me and the grits…. om nom nom nom….
jen
you just made my entire life complete.
planning on making this with some bbq chicken and your peach cobbler.. with a proper vodka infused arnold palmer this weekend :)
Sally Sparrow
Made these last night topped with chives, served up with maple baked beans, sauteed greens and roasted red peppers (oh, and a little chicken for my carnivore). So seriously good. Never knew what I was missing avoiding grits and polenta all these years… and I think I’ve officially sworn off frozen corn. It was time.
Leah
I played frissbee football on the beach with my boyfriend and his friends, I ended up running full tilt into a big metal garbage can (my eyes were focused on the frisbee… I was trying to impress people with my “skills”) totally messed my knees up and couldn’t walk properly for about a week, it’s been a month and they are still bruised!! SO I am with you, I’ll never be awesome at it, and now I’ll always get teased whenever we play for being the one who ran into a garbage can infront of the entire beach.. awesome ;)! haha
joythebaker
ooooh man. thank you for sharing this. i totally feel you pain! daaaang.
Olivia
Made these the other night. Perfection.
Lucia
Ok. I’ve just discovered that grits IS polenta and polenta IS grits. Oh dear. We totally have polenta in Italy. So we totally have grits ;-)
Lucia
I often miss my kitchen, when I’m on holiday. So it’s totally ok if you miss yours, and grits. By the way, here in Italy we don’t have grits. Bad. I know. What should I use instead of those delicious grits?
Rachael
yum!
Just pinned this to pinterest to remind me to try this recipe! Not sure where I can buy grits in the uk though….I must begin my search!
Julia
this was amazing. so incredibly creamy and i ate most of this by myself. in one sitting and not ashamed to admit it. thank you!
Stephanie
These are REALLY good grits…especially if you’re wanting to change up traditional cheese grits. I loved getting to incorporate local sweet corn. I used 1 & 1/2 cups milk and reduced the water by 1 cup. I’m accustomed to making grits w/more milk than water or no water at all. They were creamy and delicious! Browning the butter gives this dish such depth. Thanks for sharing this!
Shauna
“frisbee football,” as in ultimate frisbee? I’m loving that sport. There’s such a great team atmosphere and camaraderie that you don’t get as much in other sports.
Please make me grits one day. I don’t think you can even buy them up here.
Stephanie
I’m a Southerner replanted in Upstate NY…grits are readily available here! If you can’t get white hominy grits you can always replace them with polenta meal.
Trish
Joy, can you upgrade goat cheese to “condiment”…?
Heather
oh man, both my roommates play frisbee competitively… on a team… that goes to out of state championships… Joy, don’t practice to that extent, please.
Becca
I’ve made polenta before but it was never like this. Thanks for posting – I made it tonight with grilled sausage and a nice fresh green salad. It was fabulous and my husband really enjoyed it! Browning the butter and adding that goat cheese really takes it over the edge. I actually had to add at least an extra cup of water, and I used a little chicken broth and a spoonful of brown sugar before the flavours really rounded out but in the end it was amazing. By the by, at least you CAN make it back into the canoe hahahaha.
Baking Holly
I’m a Southern Girl- and this dish looks Amazing. You go Joy.
Helen
What are grits?? (am from England, have never heard of them before)
Your holiday sounds awesome by the way. And as for bikini tops….. Do not come to England in a heat wave, some people totally leave their dress sense at home and walk around town as if they were at the beach!
Kelly
Saved. I have a bit of a grits addiction so this is right up my alley these days.
jen @ the baked life
I just got back from vacation too, lemme tell you first day back sucks.
But I also agree, bathing tops in public just look strange. Plus to look like a stick figure to pull it off, which means no grits which I am not down for.
I just got back from crazy hot Palm Springs and I’m now back in the moderate Summer weather of Vancouver, so I think I need these in my tums. asap.
Angela (Oh She Glows)
I really want to jump into a lake right now! Fun recap Joy.
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles
I don’t care what anyone says, there is NO graceful way to get back in a canoe!
I’m so glad you’re home safe! & grits are awesome!
joythebaker
THANK YOU!!
elisha ;)
oh Joy, I missed you. not that you’re not entitled to a vaca now and then…but I missed your face (at least, your online/podcasting face) that I know and love so well. k, just sayin’. so glad you’re BACK! nom nom grits. also, just made your raspberry-peach crumble with fresh picked-by-me Michigan raspberries…amaaazing!
Urban Wife
So glad you’re back. Gosh, that water looks amazing. I would never get out. And cheese & grits? Yes please.
The Nerd
Dude. I totally have fresh corn and goat cheese tacos on my dinner plan for next week. Its like you can read my mind or something.
sheila @ Elements
welcome back, Joy! I’d love your grits!!! We make polenta with goat cheese all the time, so I know I’d love grits with goat cheese too!
I have to say that I totally feel the same way that you do…that wearing a bikini top in public feels like wearin’ a bra. And wearing a bikini bottom would definitely feel like wearin’ panties. I thought it was just me. :)
Stephanie
Goat cheese and corn? In grits? Yes, please… and thank you! :)
Thunder
Looks delicious. I love to try it.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
Glad you enjoyed your vacation. It sounds awesome. This dish is awesome too, I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like it but it looks good
CarinaRdz
This sounds delicious! I’m such a huge fan of goat cheese.
I totally agree with you about the whole bikini top thing. People (aka my sister) always gives me a hard time about not wearing a bikini but I just can’t do it, I feel so exposed and un-dressed.
Holly@loveoflifeblog
I have made my own version of this dish (it’s delightful) but yours looks so gourmet and delicious that I’ll have to try this!
Caitlin
I follow A LOT of different kinds if blogs, including many-a-food blog.. but yours, my dear, is BY FAR my favorite. You make me laugh and salivate at the same time. It’s probably a mess and really creepy but I’m okay with it.
BP
Hey! You should totally enter this recipe into NYT food columnists’ blog (food52) http://www.food52.com/contests/250_your_best_corn_off_the_cob#submit You would totally OWN the corn category. Just sayn’. ;D
Sarah-Anne
Grits are one of my fave things EVAH. must be the southern girl in me. ;)
Shelby @ Lady Gouda
Grits… WITH CORN KERNELS? And goat cheese? Ok. Ok. Yes- heading to the kitchen right this minute to fix this up for dinner. Don’t judge me that I will also be sprinkling little bits of crispy bacon on top.
miss stacy
it’s quite possible, Joy, that you just made Bobby Flay slightly less annoying. Yes I believe it happened. And I’m so going to make these tonite. Thank you!
JoVonn
Yum!
Amanda
Goat cheese + grits = heaven! I seriously think you’ve been looking inside my head. Keep up the deliciousness Joy!
Auntie Lenie
Just want to say that the photography in the post is fantastic, especially the canoes! Making the grits tonight, can’t wait….yum!
Shirley Mills
Better a bikini top than a sports bra in public. What’s up with that? My teens think it’s totally acceptable. It’s called a bra for a reason!
Christine
Pretty much all I want in the world at this moment is a meal of these grits, grilled skirt steak, a big tomato salad, and several glasses of wine! Making a grocery list now!!
Alli
being from new jersey, i’ve never eaten grits. but now i really want to.
and i agree, bikini tops are not shirts, they are basically bras that are OK to wear without a shirt over them in public places.
i was at a rock concert a couple weeks ago, and there were girls walking around in their ACTUAL BRAS with no shirts on, because it was hot. classyyy.
Carissa
Mmmm corn anything is perfect this time of year. I’ve never had grits but this is the most tempting recipe with them I’ve seen so far.
The Teenage Taste
Whoa. Seriously this looks AWESOME! Grits are the best! I love your addition of goat cheese. :)
Gen
Haha, I totally understand, I drive like a mad girl and can’t travel light. But we are girls aren’t we? ^^
The recipe is awesome, the color looks so natural.
Kimber-Leigh
joy…this looks so very yummy. definitely putting it on the list for next week. mmmmmm. (glad you’re back!)
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen
Totally delicious!
I’m with you on getting back in that canoe…soooo much harder than it looks! Did the same thing a couple months ago….except it was a raft and instead of the tropical blue ocean, it was a river. I probably sounded like a dying baby whale while it was happening….classy stuff.
Bailey W.
My mom makes the best cheese grits. I’ll have to try this and see if Bobby holds up to my momma’s!
Heidi @ Food Doodles
Mmm, that looks delicious! Hope you had a great time but I’m glad you’re back in your kitchen :D
NicoleD
YES to creamy grits! This looks so yummy.
Adriana
I just had breakfast. But i totally want to have this right now. It’s grits. With goat cheese. I think you should rename them ‘orgasm grits’, but that’s just me.
And yes, I agree, bikini tops are not shirts. Also, I live in the PNW and suck at frisbee. Like, badly. It’s so lame. (I’d say, try hulahooping, it’s easy and it makes you look graceful. Boys think it’s very sexy, as much as peanut butter and bacon).
Joy, you rock.
Lauren
yeah you’re back! looks de-lish. just pinned this puppy on pintrest to make soon!
tracy
BOBBY FLAY!!! ahaahahahaahaa!
I too overdo it on the toiletry container sitch. Talk to you tonight, buddy!
joythebaker
ugh…. BF.
laura
i was once publicly reprimanded by a tsa agent for overfilling my allotted carry-on baggy of mini toiletries. not fun. i now think twice about how many leave-in treatments my vacation actually requires…
btw im growing corn right now and TOTALLY making this dish when its ready!
Amy S.
So glad you are back, Joy! We so obviously missed you….and DANG! Its 9 something in the a.m., and I am now craving goat cheese grits for breakfast!! What is a girl in a cubicle to do? :)
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit
haha you crack me up every time, no lie. I’m the girl that brings as much luggage as humanly possible on any trip I go on. And one piece is always jam-packed with food, including my vitamix haha I wish I was kidding.
Emma
I had some terrific goat cheese grits at the Tupelo Honey Cafe down in Asheville earlier this summer. They were the pièce de résistance of the most amazing meal I’ve ever had. Now I could have the most amazing meal every night hereafter, following this recipe.
I hope you Hawaii Five-O’d yourself silly in and out of the canoe!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
I love grits, and these look wonderful. I had short ribs at a restaurant a few weeks ago that were served on top of a similar grit recipe. Delicious.
heather @ chiknpastry
welcome back!
i slowly came around to liking grits. even though i’m from the south, i’ve always been more of an oatmeal girl. the goat cheese/corn/grit combo definitely seems pretty bobby flay-ish, and i’ll have to give it a try!
Melozi
Your grits. They amaze me. I’ve been making all sorts of breakfast for the last year and a half at the Coppersmith Inn. Being in Texas we do grits a lot, but corn and goat cheese never occurred to me.
Oh and here, in this beach town, bikinis are the norm. Especially when it’s 105 without the heat index. I’m envious of your weather.
Keep cooking! You make me fall in love with food all over again.
Could you also consider doing a Shepherd’s Pie? Sounds silly, but I want to see what sort of twist you would put on it.
eko
This is superb…I am on a goat cheese kick and needing to eat NO flours at this time…I can not wait to try. You ARE amazingly spirited and bring such light to the world.
EVEN if I could wear just a bikini top (or bottom) in public I never would…yep, to “familiar” ( as my 3yo says) to underwear in public… ;p
Rebecca
As we say here in Alabama, “Well, kiss my grits!” this sounds perfect!
Kasey @ Wit of the Staircase
I do the same thing on jet skis. I just… jump.
Not completely sure, but I’m betting I want to look like a badass like Mariah Carey did that one time in that one video… except I was without the hair, the boobs or the wet suit. So. Not. Cute.
But it was warm in that water, let me tell ya.
Oh, and I have never eaten grits before in my life. But I’d be willing to try, fo sho. Glad to have you back, Miss Joy.
joythebaker
i always LOVE a mariah carey reference. amen.
homegrown countrygirl
God bless you for not using instant grits!!!
Jen of My Tiny Oven
I have never had grits, I am from Canada, they aren’t super popular up here. But anything with goat cheese and fresh corn can’t be bad! I will have to give them a try!
Megan
Joy, this recipe looks amazing! I must try these grits soon – I know I’ll love the creamy goat cheese and corn addition. Thanks! :-)
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
And now I know what to do with the half empty bag of grits in the pantry. Can’t wait!
Jason Sandeman
I had my first set of grits a couple weeks ago in a resort town. I must say that I was not impressed. They were bland, and really had nothing to them. I think if they would have took the time and care to prepare these bad boys, it would have been a hit. The recipe is not bad for me, weighing in at 15 grams of carbs for the small serving. Perfect for a diabetic breakfast, and tasty too. Thank you for this!
ErinsFoodFiles
Oh yum. Oh yes.
lynn @ the actor's diet
my LA style of driving scares my parents when they come to visit
Kirby
My Southern blood LOVES this recipe! I will definitely be making this!
Susan (Oliepants)
Perfect. Cheesy, goat cheesy, corny, grits-y – that’s pretty much all I need right now!
Stoich91
YES to the bikini being like a bra in public, YES to life being short and the water warm and all that, and YES to homemade grits with goat cheese. SHEESH fancy pants! I’m going to polish off my organic gummies for breakfast and wince at your superiority in the elegance department! LOL ;D
la domestique
Welcome back! Grits + goat cheese is a wonderful combo Delish. Can’t wait to make!
Bev Weidner
Oh my dear God.
Corn and Grits and Goat Cheese and I …well, let’s just say shots were involved before the sexy hotness unfolded.
God, I’m weird.
Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen
Grits in any form work for me. Adding goat cheese? Genius!
Kristin
Yum! I had goat cheese grits paired with fried green tomatoes and fresh chopped basil at a restaurant in Asheville, NC once. They were amazing!!
Corn Cutter
This recipe sounds superb! Definitely going on my list of things to try to make. Sounds like you had a great vacation!
Sydney
that. sounds. heavenly.
I’m really upset that I read this at work. Now I am hungry and even more upset with the workplace coffee they provided us.
gosh darn it.
but seriously that looks amazing.
Nic at The Fit Writer
But… did you have a nice time in Maui? Those of us on the other side of the world (practically) want to know. I’ve been once and can’t imagine that I’ll ever get to go again. It rained. There were storms. The roads washed away and people died. (We have a lot of luck with holidays).
joythebaker
i had an amazing time in maui! thanks for asking… it sounds like your visit was totally less than ideal. blerg.
Nic at The Fit Writer
Yeah… and it was our honeymoon ;D We have the best luck with holidays, honestly! I am determined that we’ll get back there one day. Glad you had a great time!
Twisted Domestic Goddess
So glad you’re back and sounds like you’re had a good time! Ahem I have to admit I am one of those women who will wear a bikini top instead of a shirt but learned very quickly this weekend in WA that yeah most people don’t like that lol. What can I say I’ve been in AZ the last 5 years!
The grits look amazing I may have to try these!
sherri lynn @ life of a wife
ok so I’ve never actually had grits. But this talk of butter and cheese with them has me sold.
Adrienne
I am totally obsessed with grits, but have yet to make them at home. This is totally going to be my go to recipe. How can you go wrong with butter and goat cheese??
Laura
Joy! How did you know that I’ve recently become obsessed with grits? These look wonderful!
Claire
Ok. It looks good. But what are grits? I’m South African, and live in the UK, and I have never seen grits before. Sounds kind of like something you’d gravel your front drive with, or put in the bottom of your fish tank. Anyone care to educate me? :)
Kirby
Claire, grits are ground corn (can be hominy) that are kind of similar to polenta. Being from the Southern part of the US, we eat them for breakfast with lots of butter and cheese. They’re SO good!
Claire
I see, they sound interesting :) I may have to go on the hunt for something local to give them a try. In the interest of my culinary education :) Thanks Kirby :)
Julie @SavvyEats
Have to admit, I’m a little afraid of grits.
Yup, I said it, I’m afraid of an inanimate object like food.
Seriously though, I think it is a texture thing for me. But if this involves goat cheese and corn…well, I may just have to give them a shot.
joythebaker
i’m a texture girl too… i totally understand.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
it’s been WAY too long since i’ve had grits…i love ’em! they remind me of my mimi and breakfasts around the holidays :)
Maria
YUM!
Meg H.
Just got 10 ears of corn in my CSA box – and as a Southern girl – I have a big bag of stoneground grits in the pantry. Mmmmmm, I know what I’m having for dinner tonight. Glad you had fun in Hawai’i. Got to travel there for work many, many times. So peaceful and slow. Loved it!
A Plum By Any Other Name
I think I may be lactose intolerant. I say “may” because I can’t seem to avoid cheese for more than, um, two days at a time. (No matter how much it hurts.) I’ve been foiled again by the sound of your grits recipe. Off I go in search of goat cheese … gut beware.
Alicia @ Treble Tart
I cannot remember the last time I had grits, but I know the NEXT time I’ll be having them! Thanks for this, Joy! Will you be my BFF?
joythebaker
yes. obvi.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I’ve never had grits! Weird.
Sarah
Wow, Joy, this looks deeeeelish! I’ve never made grits at home. I’ll have to try it out. Like you, I’m away, and miss my kitchen. I’m itching to make brownies.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
These look amazing with the corn and goat cheese!
Maris (In Good Taste)
Such beautiful vacation photos and a delicious recipe to welcome you back!
Holly @ Recipes from a normal mum
I too am graceless at climbing back into boats and canoes. It’s perfectly allowed as long as you can bake like an angel. x
zoe @ myfoodintranslation
Hi Joy! I always get a good laugh out of your totally relatable day to day tidbits (toting the whole sample toiletries collection wherever I go? I’m in!).
No chance of finding grits where I live, so only lusting over your recipes so far although I’m thinking I might finally take the chance and give it a try with polenta to see if it turns out (goat cheese plus corn kernels make these just too appealing).
I also just started listening to your podcasts, pretty cool too!
joythebaker
i think polenta would be yummy!
Lexi @ A Spoonful of Sunshine
Well, you score higher on re-entrance into a canoe than I do.
I may even be subzero…
Emily@SoDomesticated
Oh goodness… my mouth is watering. Yum!
Lisa
Being an Aussie and not having access to grits, do you think I could substitute polenta?
Grits is definitely on my list of things I must try when one day I eventually get to the states. In this world where it feels like you can get anything anywhere, it is one thing that doesn’t seem to have made it here.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Creamy sweet and savory meets sweet?
Sign me up!
But wait, I want to be signed up for a trip to Hawaii, first! That ocean pic is gorgeous.
And I live in San Diego and i KNOW I make people outside of SoCal a little peeved with my driving…just b/c I am a lead foot. Can’t help it!
Paula @ Dishing the Divine
Agreed about being good to have you back. While you’ve been gone, I’ve been cooking up a storm. I am ready for my own little vacation now. :) You get in the kitchen and I’ll just drool over your recipes for a change. :)
christine [the sugar apothecary]
Oh my! Creamy, melted goat cheese and fresh, sweet corn kernels?! Absolute heaven.
And I know what you mean: I can’t wait to get home, even after an awesome vacation. I always miss my dog, my bed, my gray living room rug (perfect for stretching out and watching TV on your back with said dog), and I always miss my bathroom, with its plethora of very specific things, all of which are essential to my well-being… like eye drops and and pomegranate body scrub. DUH.
Glad you’re back. We like having you in your kitchen as much as you do. xxoo.
Jessica
From one grit lover to another, I love you. This looks perfect in every way.