One of the things about changing the way you eat … or drink … is that it can have a long-lasting effect.
For instance, when in the Army, I found a change to the way I ate certain things.
Grits, for instance.
I always ate grits with butter and salt.
Oh, I wouldn’t always add salt to my grits. If cooked properly … in water salted just right … the grits have enough salt to give them that … certain something … that makes them the wonderful Southern dish we all know and love.
Okay, you might not love grits. Or even know grits; that is, you may not have ever eaten properly prepared grits.
But, I always added butter to my grits.
However, if you ever find yourself in, say, some desert in some Muslim country, you might not find grits readily available.
Unless they are instant grits.
Never was a fan of instant grits. But instant grits are better than no grits at all.
So, in the Army, in the desert, I’d have to eat instant grits.
And, sometimes, there’d be salt or butter. And sometimes not.
So, I learned to eat grits without salt and butter.
Oh, I’ll still eat salt and butter with my grits. If they’re fixed that way. Like at IHOP or some other place that serves grits.
But I won’t put salt and butter on my grits. I can eat them plain. And I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Here’s a little grit story. My mother has an addiction to sweet stuff, I do not. I do not eat sweets of any sort and never have even as a wee tot. And surprisingly enough, I never have had a cavity. My grandmother is just like me, well I am just like her, you get my point.
When I was young, my grandmother would add salt to my grits when she fixed my breakfast. When my mother noticed this for the first time, the two of them got into it with my ma insisting that I liked sugar in them instead.
Needless to say, Ma made the grits and I spit them out, crying. My grandmother still brings this up, forty years down the road. I laugh every time she does it and my ma gets mad. Gotta love family.
November 20th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
OK, is there another part to this story?
November 21st, 2007 at 12:17 am
I love the way you can take something like grits and make a long post.
I’m southern and love grits! But, I have to have salt and butter in them, and most times, I put a little pepper on them, if I’m eating them out. Most of the time, grits cooked in most places are too thick! They have to be made just right, NO lumps and freshly made!
Instant grits will do when you can’t get anything else. But the real thing is better!
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 am
[...] offers grits. Pretty dull for such a spicy [...]
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:46 am
I love grits. Lots of butter. And Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
My mom loves grits. And we (my family that is) aren’t even Southern. Anyway, perhaps it was the instant grits thing which made me think they were just like cream of wheat or Coco Wheats or something like that.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am
You’re right, plain grits are not a good thing — evil, in fact. Convert back to buttered grits immediately.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:53 am
I make the most wonderful baked 4 Cheese Grits! Hey, us ‘Bama girls can take anything and turn it into something wonderful, not to say grits aren’t good to start with but they sure do fancy up nicely
November 28th, 2007 at 6:54 am
I’m a Yankee and I love grits!
Cracker Barrel….feh. I had the best grits when I was in Fredericksburg, VA last summer.
I came to appreciate grits after my surgery and was allowed to eat only soft foods. Filling! Yummy! I love ‘em with a whole lotta butter!