A while ago someone asked me my blog address. “Grace and glory?” he wrongly repeated back to me. I told him again. “Grits and glory???” he asked very questioningly. I couldn’t contain my laughter as I corrected him yet again. This time I explained the name and I could see the lightbulb go on in his mind as he said, “Ohhhhhh! Grit and glory! Got it. That’s really good!” Ha.
Today we met some folks at Cracker Barrel for lunch. Niel ordered a salad, a root beer, and a side of grits. Yep, grits. He was missing home, and wanted something-as-close-as-he-could-get to mealie-pap. He even ate it just like he does in South Africa: with ketchup and cheese swirled into it. By the time he finishes stirring his concoction, I’m always about ready to hurl. I have to avert my eyes as he consumes the now-orangeish mush.
There’s way more grits than glory in my life these days…
oh, niel and that concoction. i agree with the hurling-ness. eugh. :)
By: roo on April 21, 2008
at 5:37 am
I do not believe that for one second…
(that you don’t have LOADS of Glory ( friends, family, home-ness, starbucks, Cracker-barrel, etc ) than ‘grits’ in your life right now!!!)
Just trying to ‘keep it real’ and in proper perspective :-)
( sarcasm does not always come ‘across’ quite the same for all readers you know? ;-) )
or is there something you are not sharing fully with your adoring fans in blogland?
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 21, 2008
at 6:03 am
i was just being sassy. i’m from new york so my life doesn’t often have “grits” in it. i just thought it was funny that it came up twice recently!
yes - there has been LOTS of glory … so i probably should have written that as:
but lately there’s been way more glory than grits in my life!
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 6:05 am
I glad Niel could find something on the menu that reminded him a little of home.
I have a friend who puts ketchup on just about everthing.
I know a lot of people put ketchup on eggs and fries.
I use it only on burgers and hot dogs. Anyone who puts sauce on a steak, as Mandy would say, “just ain’t right”.
By: edfromct on April 21, 2008
at 6:20 am
Too funny! And I can’t imagine Neil’s concoction. I … pretty much never use ketchup. I used to use it on fried fish - but I don’t really eat fried fish anymore. And I completely agree with ed’s comment about steak. A steak that needs sauce is not a good steak.
By: annie on April 21, 2008
at 6:59 am
“Grits ain’t groceries…Eggs ain’t poultry!” ;)
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 7:50 am
He does eat some strange combinations doesn’t he? This was a topic of discussion when they came to dinner at our house too. Oh….Cracker Barrel! :) That is me and my moms favorite place to go get breakfast together!
By: sarah on April 21, 2008
at 8:15 am
yum…Cracker Barrel….I love that place..where else can you eat lunch, buy homemade candy, learn your intelligence rating, AND play a game of Giant Checkers…..it is a unique place…indeed.
By: Charlene on April 21, 2008
at 8:31 am
Sounds a whole lot better as ‘praise’ Leesh - to me and to Him i suspect ;-)
‘Sassy’, Huh?
Is that in the Bible?? ;-)
love u
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 21, 2008
at 11:14 am
I like grits.
I like ketchup.
I like cheese.
I wonder if I would like them all swirled together?
We should add that recipe to Danielle’s collection.
That is very interesting that grits would come up twice so close together.
All the United States furlough stories are peppered with tales of cuisine; not only by you, but pretty much every missionary who blogs about furlough talks about food (myself included). I will have to stop reading your blog when I am hungry; you invariably make my mouth water with all this scrumptious food talk my friend. :-)
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 1:10 pm
Niel would get along JUST FIIIIIIINE in the south. grits + ketchup + cheese = a southern staple….
I had cracker barrel for dinner last night. ironically, it was the worst restaurant experience i’ve had since moving here… WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!! yankees can SURE spoil a good thing, cain’t (pron: c+ain’t) they???
;)
By: mandythompson on April 21, 2008
at 2:06 pm
niel is one ofthose guys who puts ketchup on just about anything!
(and gigi, you are so right about all the food-related stories! at the rate i’m going, i’m gonna return to south africa many pounds heavier. NOT good!)
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 2:21 pm
mandy - really?!?! i never knew they ate it that way down south. yeah, he’d fit right in, eh?
what happened at cracker barrel????
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 2:22 pm
Hey, what are “grits” anyway?
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 4:13 pm
you wanna take that question, mandy? i think this yankee’s answer would probably be very wrong!
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 4:25 pm
people people people….
EVERYBODY (that i know) knows what grits are!!!
ok. my first instinct is to tell you that there are grit trees down south that grow these little gritty thingies - like small pieces of rice.
BUT, since this is ALECE’S blog and i’m hoping she’s gonna stay friends with me, i’ll be honest.
grits are ground up pieces of corn. dry = about the size of sand (at the beach!). boil ‘em and you get the consistency of oatmeal. but, only tinier.
:)
By: mandythompson on April 21, 2008
at 4:51 pm
bless your hearts
By: mandythompson on April 21, 2008
at 4:52 pm
Ohhhh dear… just reading about Nigel’s concoction makes me want to hurl. But I laughed at all the grits in your life ;)
By: Amy on April 21, 2008
at 6:47 pm
I thought grits were made of hominy (it grows on ears, but the kernels are larger than corn and white - thus the white color of grits served at the Cracker Barrels I have eaten at). ‘Cause I thought that another name for grits was hominy grits. But I am not from the South. Maybe the grits in Nebraska and Missouri are different.
For the record, I am not a big fan of Cracker Barrel. I am also curious about Mandy’s less than pleasant experience there.
Oh, and I prepared the sort of equivalent to grits that we have here this morning and I mixed a bit with ketchup and cheese. I might have had the proportions wrong because it wasn’t as tasty as I thought it would be (that might be due to the fact that it was the first thing I ate today as well). I ate the rest as I normally eat them. And I am willing to give it another go at a later time in the day and maybe as a side, not a main dish.
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 7:36 pm
Umm…Okay. That officially sounds yucky. But why doesn’t everybody just eat corn on the cob…? I mean, you can’t you grill grits.
Or can you…?
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 8:12 pm
no grilling of grits.
real southern grits are white, but definitely ground from corn. i’ve seen the old-fashioned stone mills…. gasp - but i’ve NEVER thought of the whole “yellow” corn predicament until now. my whole world view is shifting. panic panic!!!!
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 8:17 pm
Corn on the cob has its place. Yum! Although, grits (like Mandy said) has the consistency of oatmeal. It is a delicious mush. Grilling grits would get very messy. Then it would be yucky.
Don’t knock ‘em till you’ve tried ‘em buddy.
:-)
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 8:20 pm
grits
When in doubt: wikidepia. Yep, they are made from corn. :-)
(it’s got a picture there too - and a link to a recipe)
By: wikipedia on April 21, 2008
at 8:26 pm
Umm…MUSH is delicious?!?!?!
Ah ha ha ha ha!!!
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 8:49 pm
I think you can fry grits, can’t you? I don’t think I made it up.
I MISS YOU!!!!
By: yeller on April 21, 2008
at 9:01 pm
FRY??? i’ve never fried grits….. but i guess maybe. it’d be like frying teenie pieces of sand.
maybe “wikipedia” will show up and leave another comment to dispel all grit rumors.
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 9:04 pm
Now, now, now, Mr. Nor, mush can be very yummy. Have you ever tried a nice mushy dish called ice-cream? Or how about a big spoon full of mushy cookie dough? Pie filling is usually pretty mushy. So there are three perfect examples of completely mushy food that the great majority of people consider to be delicious.
So back to the grits I am defending…
“Try them. Try them and you may. Try them and you may I say.” Dr. Seuss
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 9:12 pm
and WHY am i the only Grits expert around here???
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 9:15 pm
Gigi: that was not to ignore you - thank you for defending right along with me!!!
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 9:15 pm
This is an excerpt from the article linked above:
Grits is a type of corn based food, which is common in the Southern United States consisting of coarsely ground corn. This is similar to many other thick maize-based porridges from around the world such as polenta.
Polenta is linked to another page that describes the common preparation of fried polenta.
Thus the connection made by Yeller of fried grits.
And to calm Mady’s panic attack this is also an excerpt from the same article about grits:
Yellow grits include the whole kernel, while white grits use hulled kernels.
And finally, the reason that you, Mandy, are considered the only grits expert (though the author of this blog has so rightly bestowed the name grit and glory to these writings and thus should make her the expert in all things gritty) is the following excerpt taken from a linking article to the word grit (without an s):
Grits, a corn-based food common in the Southern United States and Southern Manchuria
GRITS (derived from the above meaning) is an American slang term short for Girls Raised In The South
By: wikipedia on April 21, 2008
at 9:44 pm
mandy - you are too kind
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 9:45 pm
grits = mandy! i love it!!!!
(and are you ever gonna tell us about your sucky cracker barrel experience???!!)
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 9:47 pm
(i’m sitting in the terminal at detroit airport… en route to orlando. gonna start boarding … NOW!
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 9:48 pm
Wikipedia (@ngie): i officially LOVE you!!!!!!!!!!! yes. GIRLS RAISED IN THE SOUTH. and i will go toe to toe with our blog-owner if she claims ANY rights to being a grit expert. we WILL fight over that title. we WILL.
and y’all will NEVER know how close i came to suggesting that the coloration had something to do with what part of the kernel was used.
you’ll never know.
Gigi: i’m a big fan of yours!
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 9:50 pm
i know grit. not grits.
so i won’t fight you for that title! it’s ALL you!
By: alece on April 21, 2008
at 9:51 pm
ok fine. cracker barrel. sorry….
well
anyway.
for starters:
they erased our name from the list - and we ALL know that it takes three years to get a seat at a cracker barrel. so it took us about TEN years.
THEN. we waited a good umpteen days for a server, who took our drink orders, then brought two (of 6) drinks incorrectly. how do you mess THAT up?
then we ordered our food and it took another lifetime for our cornbread/biscuits to show up.
did i mention that some of the drinks were never corrected? mine was one. and it was so not worth it to even try. really. really.
THEN four centuries later our food comes out. and, guess what? i didn’t get any dumplins.
AND my gravy was so cold it’d congealed.
by then i didn’t have the energy.
besides, MY homemade dumplins are notably better than Cracker Barrel’s.
so
there ya have it.
and i’m sure this will go down in history as one of those comments that i regret leaving later… i’m sure the head of Customer Service will contact me.
and then i’ll feel bad.
but its the truth. well, except for the lengths of time. i might be exaggerating about that.
not telling you WHERE i went in New England, because i’m STILL a loyal patron of Cracker Barrel. namely, those below the Mason-Dixon line.
i’m just sayin.
have fun in orlando - its one of my favorite places. and drew’s granny lives there.
and do i win an award for the longest blog comment ever?
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 9:56 pm
whoa - a bit of an identity crisis goin’ on there…
Hope you have a good flight Alece.
By: @ngigipedia on April 21, 2008
at 9:59 pm
Thank you for telling the story Mandy. No fun.
Do I hear a new song being written right before our eyes?
…something about a lifetime, four centuries, ten years and umpteen days…
Could be your next great hit.
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 21, 2008
at 10:05 pm
Gigi: you hearing noises again!?! i can’t really hear anything…. i’m listening. but can’t hear. i’ll let ya know if the music reaches me! ;)
By: mandy on April 21, 2008
at 10:10 pm
“Have you ever tried a nice mushy dish called ice-cream?”
Ice cream is not mushy. It is frozen. When it melts just a little bit, it’s milky–NOT mushy like grits!
“Or how about a big spoon full of mushy cookie dough?”
Cookie dough is gooey–NOT mushy like grits!
“Pie filling is usually pretty mushy.”
Yeah. But it’s a PIE mushy–NOT mushy like grits!
And Mandy said, “WHY am i the only Grits expert around here???”
Because Girls Raised In The South know all about G.R.I.T.S.!!! But me? I can tell you all you want to know about fluffernutters! Heh.
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 10:50 pm
By the way, I tried grits once.
ONCE.
It felt like I was eating dead ants!
Ah ha ha ha!!! (No seriously…[snicker]…It DID!!)
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 10:52 pm
Okay. I give in and I give up. I know I’m going to sound like a COMPLETE IDIOT for asking…but since I’m well on my way already, I’ve got to ask: “What is a dumpling?”
By: TheNorEaster on April 21, 2008
at 10:56 pm
Well you have surprised me sir. I stand corrected. If you have tried them then it is ok to have an opinion about them.
Please tell us about fluffernutters, if you will.
And I make a good dumpling - but not as good as my aunt’s plum dumplings - yum! Basically a dumpling is a boiled ball of dough that is like a biscuit on the inside and is covered in broth or sauce.
But I will let Mandy explain in more detail - since she brought it up.
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 22, 2008
at 12:17 am
I have had grits several times in the south. I did not think the dish had much flavor. I am a Yankee like NorEaster so maybe is a culture issue.
I did look for some grits receipes that I might like and found the following. Of course anything with bacon, shrimp and hot pepper sauce would taste great:
“The secret ingredient in Kristen’s version of this southern classic? Evaporated milk.”
Makes 4 servings
Kristen Williams:
6 cups water
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk (do not use fat-free)
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking grits
1 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp white cheddar cheese
5 bacon slices, chopped
2 cups sliced crimini (baby bella) mushrooms (4 to 5 ounces)
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 1/4 cups chopped plum tomatoes, divided
1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
Bring water and milk to boil in large saucepan. Gradually whisk in grits. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until grits are thick, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Mix in cheese; season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, sauté bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels.
Add mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, and 1 1/2 cups tomatoes to drippings in skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté over medium-high heat until vegetables are tender and sauce is thick, about 12 minutes. Add shrimp, hot sauce, and 3/4 cup tomatoes to skillet. Sauté until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 4 minutes.
Spoon hot grits onto plates; top with shrimp and sauce.
By: edfromct on April 22, 2008
at 12:19 am
Dumplings in my family are known by two names.
1) “Granny’s chicken soup”
2) “That soup Mom used to make.”
Fluff is a marshmallow spread made in Massachusettes. It goes great with peanut butter on a very lightly toasted bread–hence the name “fluffernutter.” But you have to toast the bread just a little bit, see, because otherwise when you spread the fluff, it will take the bread with it when you move the knife. It goes GREAT with a root beer float!
By the way, Ed…DON’T call me a YANKEE. Where I come from, the YANKEES are a baseball team that EVERYBODY HATES. I am NOT a YANKEE. I will NEVER be a YANKEE. I HATE YANKEES. I absolutely HATE being called a YANKEE.
End o’ story.
(Whew! Glad I got that off my chest. Heh.)
By: TheNorEaster on April 22, 2008
at 12:45 am
sounds yummy
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 22, 2008
at 12:52 am
Wow.
By: Natalie Jane on April 22, 2008
at 1:49 am
LOL!!!!!!
TheNor: LOVED your research on those grits. and i gotta say, a “grits bar” makes a FUN southern dinner party! its like a salad bar, but for grits: cheese, bacon, etc etc etc etc.
i’ve never been to a “grits bar” party, but totally wanna!
:)
and dumplins (NO “G” at the end) is exactly what Gigi said. i think she & i may be long lost relatives or something!
By: mandythompson on April 22, 2008
at 2:25 am
psssst - hey cuz’ - yes you Mandy - were you referring to Ed’s research?
By: Gigi on the g&g on April 22, 2008
at 2:46 am
DANG IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALECE: FIX ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By: mandythompson on April 22, 2008
at 3:12 am
hey how do you get a website like this one were people can leave comments without having to have an account with this page?
My sister is moving to Mexico and I thought it would be cool if she had a sight like this wear all her supporters can keep in touch with her. If you can let me know sometime.
Ok sorry to interrupt the 50 some comments going on about GRITS!!!!
They are real good by the way!
By: Faith Start Essenburg on April 22, 2008
at 4:07 am
Seriously, dang, girl! You have 51 comments…about grits. (now 52 if no one else has chimed in and declared that he/she loves/hates grits).
Grits - I am ambivalent to.
Mealie - mmmmm
By: danielhodgson on April 22, 2008
at 4:28 am
OR ^ that ^ was from yeller (again. i know…you’d think i’d learn)
By: yeller on April 22, 2008
at 4:29 am
Ok - i’m the only REAL Southerner (South of the Ee-quater that is!) here - so watch what you say :-)
I have NEVER tried grits although i have tried and love GRITS! ;-)
We seem to have ‘forgotten’ about Hominy Grits though (Nixtamalized grits!)…
Nixtamalization typically refers to a process for the preparation of maize (corn) in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, and hulled (so it’s white grits!). The term can also refer to the removal of the pericarp from any grain by an alkali process besides maize such as, sorghum. Maize subjected to the nixtamalization process has several benefits over unprocessed grain for food preparation: it is more easily ground; its nutritional value is increased; flavor and aroma are improved; and mycotoxins are reduced. (Thanks Wiki!)
So clearly - Hominy grits are better for you in so many ways. :-)
Mandy - i have to take issue with your ‘Southern’ Girl - y’all ain’t right when you defined ‘cain’t’ - but this could take a time so i’ll do it on your ‘Y’all ain’t right’ comment over at your blog ;-)
Hi Alece - what’s with ‘chopping’ your new do??
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 22, 2008
at 7:11 am
That cheese and bacon sounds really good. Wonder if it beats “Ants On A Log….?” Heh. (Now does anybody know what Ants On A Log are…?)
By: TheNorEaster on April 22, 2008
at 11:55 am
don’t know what Ants on a Log are!!!
Cain’t.
i’m sorry. that was a reference to pronunciation (c+ain’t)…. the meaning is “can’t”… just pronounced in old timey southern talk!
:)
By: mandythompson on April 22, 2008
at 2:38 pm
:) Mandy, Ants on a log are raisins on a celery stalk with peanut butter. Some people do cream cheese on celery, but I don’t know if that way also includes raisins.
By: annie on April 22, 2008
at 3:56 pm
ewwwww…… ew. ew.
i don’t like celery. and have never had a craving for raisins. now, peanut butter? well. i guess.
mix the three together?
i dunno……
but, cream cheese? makes EVERYTHING better!!!!
By: mandythompson on April 22, 2008
at 4:28 pm
i finally got online again and had to laugh at the discussion that ensued about all things gritty here on my blog! ha ha.
miss grits (yep, mandy, that’s you!) — crazy to hear about your cracker barrel experience. to be honest, i don’t think anyone in the north knows how to do the whole CB thing as well as they do in the south.
NE — don’t even tell me you’re a sox fan!!!! and you should see my license plate!
By: alece on April 22, 2008
at 5:45 pm
Alece:
I am THE biggest Red Sox fan you’ll ever met. Been that way since I could walk. And I record EVERY game on my DVR. I know more about that team than most people do about their Senators and Representatives–which isn’t saying much, I know, but…Heh.
I’m not worried if you’re a fan of the Yankees, Alece. There are plenty at my church and we always have fun with it, never taking it too seriously. In fact, I once wrote on a name tag, “I miss Torre” and gave it to a die-hard Yankee fan. She got a kick out of it. Heh.
By: TheNorEaster on April 22, 2008
at 5:55 pm
some friends of mine are die-hard sox fans. we like to tease each other all the time, too.
i’m glad we can still be friends even though i’m a yankee-loving yankee.
By: alece on April 22, 2008
at 5:57 pm
GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i can’t NOT be a sox fan here. i don’t even have a choice. its so dang contagious.
By: mandy on April 22, 2008
at 8:39 pm
oh dear.
By: alece on April 22, 2008
at 8:42 pm
(sorry. just being honest. you gotta take the good with the bad. the bad = i’m a BRAT. ask my bff. i’m a bona fide brat with friends that i feel secure with…)
By: mandy on April 22, 2008
at 9:45 pm
GO SOX!!!!!!!!
By: mandy on April 22, 2008
at 9:49 pm
GOOOOO SOXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By: mandy on April 22, 2008
at 9:49 pm
see. told ya i can be a brat.
By: mandy on April 22, 2008
at 9:50 pm
oh.
my.
skunk.
By: alece on April 22, 2008
at 11:15 pm
see that mandy/ nice to know that we were also separated at birth. heh. 9and by the way, in honor of your red sox fandom, i have not used my shift key the time i was typing this comment0 heh
(First time for everything!)
By: TheNorEaster on April 23, 2008
at 12:06 am
TheNor: i am SOOOOOO proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
By: mandythompson on April 23, 2008
at 1:47 am
Leesh - having a bad hair day? your new comment pic is ‘cropped’ very short??
Mandy - ‘pron’ means pronounced?? Ohhhh - i figured pronoun! Then i retract 7/8ths of my comment over on your ‘Mandy mini’ post ;-)
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 23, 2008
at 5:43 am
Love: i forgive you. ;)
By: mandythompson on April 23, 2008
at 1:00 pm
bub — nah… i just wanted to be more like you!
By: alece on April 23, 2008
at 10:19 pm
::blush:: Awwwww - shucks :-)
those are the two nicest comments i have had all week!
maybe i should go and withdraw my last comment to Mandy on my blog’s About page???
hee-hee! >:->
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 24, 2008
at 5:39 am
Love: don’t withdraw NUTHIN!!! i take it all in stride!
By: mandythompson on April 24, 2008
at 2:10 pm