Boy Meets Grits

I enjoy watching cooking shows. And Gretchen's love of cooking has led me to watch a great deal more food-related shows than I ever have before. We like the competitive (Top Chef, Iron Chef America) and the non-competitive (Giada, Barefoot Contessa, Flay). Giada is the most entertaining. From her unnecessary application of a heavy Italian accent to any word that sounds remotely Italian, to her unnecessary cleavage, there is much to mock. Did I mention her husband rides around on an electric skateboard (which is almost as funny as the rocket skateboard)?

But my favorite show for finding recipes that I would actually use is Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill. Yesterday, they had an episode where his wife makes him his annual birthday dinner. A key part to the meal every year is Jalapeno Cheesy Grits. With my mom's family being from the South, I am well acquainted with grits. They go very well with a southern style breakfast. My only knock on grits is that unless you go heavy on the butter, they tend to be a bit bland.

People who know me know I am a huge fan of spicy foods. The hotter the better. Wings, Mexican, Indian -- I love foods that bring the heat. I was very surprised that I had never heard of these 'hot' grits. Maybe for my birthday this year I can convince Gretchen to make me some grits with a little fire in them.