My early cooking days in college were largely characterized by food that came from the middle of the grocery store. I was on a budget, so I became a whiz at making Hamburger Helper and Rice-A-Roni ...

You've probably read the word "gritty" somewhere — it might even be in your personal vocabulary. Fun fact: It shares roots with a simple, but nourishing food that had fed Southerners for generations.

Venture too far out of the Southern U.S. and grits quickly disappear from restaurant menus and grocery store shelves alike, but for a significant portion of the country this corn product is not just a ...