Bob raises a point which troubles this native Californian mightily. No one ever speaks of a grit. Always in the plural. Why ? Maybe I'm not really hungry and all I want is a grit. Would that single kernel be a grits then? If so what's the unsung plural of grits, gritti? That sounds Italian to me. "Augustino, how are the gritti this evening?"

And while we're at it, what in the name of description is pone? I've got the corn part (maize for the English speakers in the audience) but pone? Why are there no other kinds of pone? One never hears someone wax poetic about settin' on the ol' Chevy seat on the front porch, scratching the ol' hound dog and scarfing up some apple pone. Why not?

Can anyone out there enlighten me?

Note to Wyo Woman: about twenty minutes from my house is a restaurant where you're greeted by the whap-whap-whap of corn tortillas being made by hand. I bet I could air freight some to you and they would be close to right. If ever you're a hankerin' for tortillas done right let me know. E.S.