Q. What’s the difference between stone-ground cornmeal and regular cornmeal? A. Regular cornmeal is ground between metal rollers and the hull and germ are removed so the texture is finer.

It's fun to use in front of guests, and makes a seamless transition from the ... but often I prefer a slightly rougher texture. Powdery, pre-ground spices so easily turn dreary and bland.

But some say that they don’t have any defining taste, or that their texture is clumpy or congealed. Clearly, those detractors have never had stone-ground grits, which have way more flavor and ...