Puttin' on the Grits

As I was cleaning up a little clutter yesterday, I stumbled across one of my favorite little books-- Puttin' on the GRITS: A Guide to Southern Entertaining by Deborah Ford. Here is a quick blurb from the official GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) website.

Family and friends are the center of life in the South, and kitchens the center of Southern homes, so there is no better way to celebrate Southern traditions than a book on entertaining. From the heartfelt love in Grandma's dumplings, to the stomping fun at a good hoedown, Southern entertaining is special. This book will help everyone to be as gracious, warm, and entertaining as Deborah Ford herself. She can't help but sharing--it's the Southern way!

Whether you were born in the South, are Southern at heart, or just like to eat Southern food, this book is bound to entertain you on more than one level. For fun, each day this week I thought I would do a different posting on something out of this book. I hope you enjoy!

Day 1: Southern Translations

Hootenanny: n. an old-fashioned gathering to hear and share good old Kentucky bluegrass music, a foot-stompin' good time, what happens whenever two Pearl Girls get together. (Get out of the way, boys!)

Hospitality: n. The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging. --Ambrose Bierce

Precious: adj. in the North, something valuable, such as a gem, in the South, a glorious gem of a girl.

Outblonded: n. the state of being outdressed, outshone, out-thought, or outlasted by another woman. If she's a bigger sensation, you've been outblonded, honey!

Streaking: n. in the Northern United States, taking off one's clothes and running around nekkid as a fool, in the Southern United States, adding blonde highlights to one's hair.

Tee-totaler: n. A Pearl Girl who leaves the house wearing her T-shirt without pearls. It better be an emergency (and even that excuse is suspect)!

Progressive: adj. pertaining to a type of left-wing political thought, n. a dinner at which each course is eaten at a separate home.

Sippin' whiskey: n. the best-quality bourbon--ladies sip it slowly.

Homebrew: n. liquor made behind the shed--ladies avoid it at all costs.

Afar: n. a place that is not near; your guest's hair when he does a drunken Polynesian fire dance.

Fishin': n. catching your supper (or losing a lot of crickets and worms) with a rod and reel, the art of getting people to give you the praise you so richly deserve.

***Pearl Girl: n. a well-mannered woman.