It being only a day and a half till New Years, I've got the peas soaking and am rummaging around in the freezer to see if I can find some jowl bacon or a hock somewhere. Back in September or so I posted God's Own Hoppin' John recipe, so I won't again unless someone needs it, however I offer the following for quick n' easy spoon bread, which guests will get with the ham I'm fixin:

This recipe is for a bunch of folk. You can cut it in half for a small family or group. It offers the advantage of using cooked grits for the base as opposed to others that require you to make a lump-free corn meal mush for the foundation - something that to my knowledge is impossible and probably hasn't been done on earth since my grandmother went to be with the angels....at least not by me:

Quick n Easy Spoon Bread
Printer version of this recipe

3 cups water
salt to taste (1 or 2 tsp)
1 cup grits
1 cup corn meal
1/2 stick butter
3 or 4 eggs
1 cup milk
3 tsp baking powder

Boil water, add salt and stir in grits
Cover, reduce heat and cook accordingly -
    depending on whether you're using real grits or cheaters.

Heat oven to 375; take grits off the fire when they're ready
    and stir in the corn meal until well blended.
Add butter, eggs (one at a time) mixing well.
Blend in milk & then the baking powder.

Put the whole mess in a buttered baking dish & bake for 35 - 40 minutes
    (until lightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean).

Serve with gravy, if you've got it. And lots of butter...