WANTED: Sadly lacking true grit(s)...

11 years ago

until today, when my fabulous package arrived from Bumblbeez in South Carolina!

This is my first swap and I've been so excited. I had fun putting together my swap to send, and today was doubly excited to open my package. Inside I found a pretty card with a nice note, a matching set of oven mitt/tea towel in yellow to match my Fiestaware, a gorgeous hand thrown pie plate, and true grit(s) stone ground in South Carolina! What a fabulous package.

The timing is perfect as I'm on DIYer vacation next week. We are finishing our bathroom renovation but my time will be more flexible so I'll have plenty of time to try my hand at making grits and make a pie or two. Won't the pie look good in this!

Thank you so much Bumblebeez, I love EVERYTHING!
Now, please send directions for cooking grits :-)

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Comments (18)

mustangs81
11 years ago
Nice job BB!

I recently toured the Hagood Mill and Museum in Pickens. My childhood friend is on the board and she had them open up to give me a tour of all the buildings.

Basic recipe:
Hagood grits don't require overnight soaking so they are a little quicker; also Hagood is 2 to 1 ratio (2 cups water-1 cup grits) versus other longer cooking grits which use a 3 to 1 ratio.

Put desired amount of grits in pot; pour water over, let hulls rise, pour off the hulls and water. Add the required amount of water using the 2 to 1 ratio. Add salt and a little butter. Bring to a boil. Turn down to low and cook 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add additional butter to taste.

This post was edited by mustangs on Thu, Feb 14, 13 at 21:55
ann_t
11 years ago
Bumblebeez, you did good. Pretty oven mitts and tea towels. And that pie plate is lovely. I like the colours. But it is the Grits that I'm envious of. I love grits but they aren't something you find in our grocery stores.

Looking forward to seeing what you bake in your new pie plate.

Ann
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KatieC
11 years ago
Love the pie plate, hand-thrown pottery is always one-of-a-kind. And the towel set is like a little bit of sunshine...very welcome this time of year. Yes, perfect with Fiestaware.

I posted a grits and shrimp recipe on the New Recipe Review thread. I tried making grits once and they were awful, but these cheesy grits were a pleasant surprise. I'll make them again. Be sure and let us know what you make!
annie1992
11 years ago
What a lovely and unique pie plate, and no one can have enough kitchen towels.

It's a very nice swap package, Bumblebeez.

Annie
centralcacyclist
11 years ago
What a thoughtful selection! I love the pie plate! Such a pretty glaze. I agree, a pie will look very good in that pie plate. The mitt and tea towel set are a cheery addition to any kitchen.

I've never seen real grits here, just some Quaker brand. Meh. Those look intriguing!

I'll look forward to seeing your pie dish in action.

Nicely done, Bumblebeez!

Eileen
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
11 years ago
I'm glad everything arrived in one piece! I hope you enjoy the grits, if you don't that's ok! I make them plain w/water, butter and salt as a breakfast side and as a main part of dinner, the options are endless. It's like rice(risotto), polenta, anything goes. I think the tag has a recipe on it. Shrimp and Grits is particularly popular here and many nicer restaurants have it as a dinner entree.
Hagood Mill is near my home and those grits are easily available around here.That's cool, Mustangs, that you toured the place.
Leftover grits may be poured into an orange juice can, then refrigerated, sliced and sauteed as a dinner side. They may be lightly floured and seasoned too.

Ironically, the pie plate is from an etsy seller, who is out of Maine. I didn't realize that until I was packing everything up.

It was fun to read your back posts Mabel, and to figure out what to send. The whole Thai, Asian thing was interesting, but way out of my league!
mustangs81
11 years ago
Off Topic--BB, you mean it was a missed opportunity to meet up with you?? Darn, I didn't know you were in that area. My brother's cabin is near Murphy, NC, it that close to you?
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
11 years ago
That would have been fun! I'm not sure where Murphy is but we about an hour from Cashiers/Highlands, one hour from Greenville. Essentially, I live 20 minutes from downtown Clemson, in Seneca.
Downtown Greenville has some great restaurants.
coconut_nj
11 years ago
What a great box you sent Beez! Everything is great. The pie plate is gorgeous and grits...be still my heart! We love grits! Just salt and plenty of butter. We eat just grits for supper sometimes. Those sound like really excellent ones too. Cute towel and mitt set. Lucky Mabel. You did great Beez.
mabeldingeldine_gw
Original Author
11 years ago
Beez, I seriously love everything. I am sure I will like grits, the list of things I won't eat is pretty limited (unfortunately!). They are after all, another butter delivery mechanism! I may have to plan a trip to visit you and the mill someday.

How funny the potter is from Maine. I don't recognize the signature on the bottom but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. It is a beautifully made piece. The towel/mitt set is like sunshine in the kitchen -- so welcome after last week when we got nearly 30" of snow!

Funny you should mention the Thai/Asian thread. last night I had difficulty reaching escape velocity at the office, so the hubs met me for dinner at our favorite Thai place and we enjoyed the Kao Soi noodle bowl I wrote about. It reinforced my need to be able to make that dish at home, it is so delicious. Thanks again, Beez! That package really made my day.
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
11 years ago
I would be overjoyed if it would snow here but essentially spring is here already: daffodils, higan cherry trees in bloom, red maples popping out...

Mabel, store the grits in the freezer, as like other whole grains, they go rancid quickly.
Thanks Coconut!
goldgirl
11 years ago
Love the grits idea - so original - as well as the beautiful pie plate. But the card and tea towels/mitts really brightened my mood, just looking at them. So pretty!

Sue
dedtired
11 years ago
I've never had grits in my life. However, I've had plenty of pie and I love that pie plate! Truly gorgeous. Pretty, sunshiney potholders and tea towel!
riverrat1
11 years ago
Lovely swap box! It's so nice that the tea towels and oven mitt match your Fiestaware!

I'm not a pie maker but I would give it a go if that was my pie plate. Beautiful colors and that glaze is so pretty.

Bumblebeez, That's a very nice box that you put together for Mabel. I love that particular kind of grit ;-) Enjoy Mabel!
agmss15
11 years ago
I love the colors on the pie plate. Thinking Strawberry Rhubarb... Spring fever is upon me. I just bought 10 packages of seed when I went to Home Depot for plywood.

I loved grits when I visited the south years ago. I like Hominy in pozole too. But I never really liked either of them when I attempted them at home. Clearly I didn't have the real thing.
compumom
11 years ago
Love the pretty yellow ecoutrements and a handmade piece is always nice! i'm not into grits, but DH would have them with shrimp or cheese in a second!
Good job BB!
twoyur
11 years ago
Looks like you received great gifts. Grits Irefused to eat because they always looked like cream of wheat. I didn't like that. I was wrong I love grits. I am partially color blind and as such I do not look at colors But what I do look at is form. That dish appears to have those small "ears" I so like on the edge. They give you something to hold onto and not end up with a oven mitten print in your pie. Guess I have an new thing to search for at Etsy
jessyf
11 years ago
That pie plate is outstanding. Makes me want to go bake a Chess pie for DS#2, he has been begging. And I'm missing all the carbs, including grits....this swap box isn't helping my diet, LOL!

Nice package!

WANTED: Sadly lacking true grit(s)...

Comments (18)

mustangs81

ann_t

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