Dinner Bell Ringing

The next stop in our GRITS series...

If you need something  else to distinguish Girls Raised In The South, then you should just stop by our kitchen. The sweet aromas coming from our welcoming kitchens will instantly remind you why 'Comfort Food' is our specialty. Today I'll be sharing the history and staples of some of our favorite foods. 

1) Corn

A gift from Native Americans, corn was needed to replace expensive flour. At first the original GRITS were furious was the change. Thank God, they adapted beautifully and invented a new food, cornbread. Just add a slab of butter and a dash of pepper to have the perfect compliment to any meal. 

2) Berries

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, boysenberries, oh my! This is all I eat during the summer months, when they are in season. The possibilities are endless and are always refreshing. 

3) Barbeque

Pork was originally brought over to the Southeast by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Although he spent his whole life searching for treasure, he died penniless near the bank of the Mississippi. From that the point, the pigs were tamed and eventually became a Southern staple. 

The biggest thing to remember is the difference between a barbeque and a cookout. To a true Southerner, a barbeque means only two things: pulled pork and ribs (slowly cooked over a real fire and with great flavor). Some, mostly Northerners, are slightly confused by the definition. A barbeque is not the same thing as a cookout. That's when you cook on a backyard grill. Barbeque and cookout ARE NOT synonyms. 

To finish a meal all you have to do add some vegetables: squash, collard greens, okra, green tomatoes, and macaroni and cheese. 

What's your favorite Southern meal?

Until next time,

kCa