These popular breakfast / brunch recipes will wow your guests every time. The cheese grits are rich and creamy and work well with bacon, sausage or ham. The date nut bread can be served alone or with a full breakfast / brunch. Serve it toasted and buttered with coffee, juice or tea.

Brunch Cheese Grits

3 cups boiling salted water
3/4 cup quick cooking grits
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 tbsp. onion, finely grated (optional)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. each; garlic salt, paprika and onion salt

Stir the grits into the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and mix in the remaining ingredients; blend well. Pour the batter into a 2 quart greased casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, at 250 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a silver knife or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve hot.

Date Nut Bread

3 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 8 ounce package dates, chopped
1 cup hot water
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups plain flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. cinnamon

Let the dates soak in the hot water. Meanwhile, beat the eggs and add the sugar and the oil. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix lightly. Add the nuts and the dates in their soaking water and mix just to combine. Pour the batter into a greased and lined loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.