cooking – Grits with Grace

communication, Family, food, life, Scripture

Sweet Gravy

Posted on September 23, 2025September 22, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8

My eyes said “gravy”, but my mouth said “sweet.” I’m just not much of a cook. In fact, if cook was a bigger word, I probably wouldn’t even be able to spell it. With that said, every once in a while, I am forced to venture into the kitchen. I do manage to cook my own breakfast but occasionally I even manage to mess that up. Such was the case a while back.

It was Saturday and My wife Judy had a teaching thing in a town about an hour away, so I was on my own. She had cooked some sausage gravy the day before, so I looked in the refrigerator to see if there was any left. There was some sausage but no gravy. I did find a small container that looked like the milk and flour beginnings of gravy, so I grabbed that and poured it into the frying pan.

After a few moments, I realized whatever this was needed some help. Despite my best efforts, it simply wasn’t becoming gravy. I went to the pantry and found seasoned flour and shoveled in several tablespoons. Well, that did the trick, in fact so much, that I had to add some milk to loosen it up some. Before long it at least looked like gravy. Well, about that time a piece of sausage went over the side of pan and onto the stove. I picked it up and, being the frugal guy that I am, popped it in my mouth. “Hmmm, not bad, but sweet. How strange” I said out loud to myself.

Well, I put the gravy in a bowl and, since we were out of bread, got a spoon and proceeded to dig in. To my surprise, the “gravy” was indeed sweet and yes, I did go ahead and eat it. How strange indeed. Well, I pondered and pondered how I ended up with sweet gravy and I finally figured it out. You see, Judy had put some of her Italian sweet cream creamer into a container to take on our trip to Georgia. She had forgotten to take it and the container was still in the refrigerator. It turns out that what I thought was the makings of gravy was in fact coffee creamer.

You know, it sure looked right and it even kind of cooked right, but the bottom line was regardless of how it looked or cooked—it was not what I thought it was. And I learned that coffee creamer just doesn’t make gravy. I’m not sure what it makes—but it doesn’t make gravy. I learned there and then to make sure I knew what was going in the pan before I started cooking.

That is a great lesson for making gravy and it is a great lesson for doing life with God. There are some things in this world that can look like God. Religion is one of them. And there are plenty of things that can take the place of God and in the process become a god. So, it is important we make sure we are loving and serving Creator God and not some sort of substitute. And remember, nothing, and I mean nothing, can take the place of the real deal. Whether it is in the kitchen or on the streets—make sure you have what is real. If you find yourself a little confused, don’t worry, just ask Him and He will let you know what’s real and what’s not. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, love, loving others, Mother's Day, Scripture, thankful

Remembering Momma

Posted on May 9, 2025May 4, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her: Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all!” Proverbs 31:28-29

Each year I observe Mother’s Day with Grits by publishing this story. Why? Well, it pretty much says it all. Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate our mothers, our wives and other ladies who have poured their life into our lives. But the problem is time can make that harder. Let me explain. You see, time can be a bane and a blessing. It is difficult to live with but we sure can’t live without it and as we get older, it can begin to fuzz the brain and our memories. Things that at one time were vivid and clear become a midst and sometimes disappear into the fog.

That seems to be true of so many of my childhood memories—my Momma memories. Things that I am sure were so valuable, so definitive at the time, are now simply not there. I am sure that is the case with my memories of my parents as a child. When that happens, I simply fill in the gaps with hints and clues from the things I do remember. As the pieces come together, it quickly becomes obvious that my Momma was one of my anchors and a huge blessing in my life.

As I scan the landscape of my childhood, as I piece the pieces together, I realize that I had a really good childhood, and it was largely because of my parents and in particular, my mother. One of my daughters wrote to my wife Judy, “Daddy may be the head of the house but you are the one who makes it a home.” Amen. Well, anyway, as the baby of eight, by the time they got to me, two things were obvious: they had it down to a science, and I was pretty spoiled.

Because of our finances, we didn’t get everything we wanted (not by a long shot), but Christmas, birthdays, and usually even ordinary days were special. Momma was often the one who made that happen. She was a stay-at-home, hold the fort down, mom and was always there when I needed her. Perhaps you have heard of a Swiss Army knife. It is one crazy invention where a simple pocketknife becomes an all-purpose, whatever you need tool. And that describes Momma. Whatever the occasion she was there for us…for me. Well, truth be known, while she didn’t wear a habit like Mother Teresa or a nurse’s uniform like Florence Nightingale or banish a sword like Joan of Arc, she was that and more in my eyes.

I wonder how many times was I sick, and she became Doctor Momma? On so many occasions I can remember her pulling me into her lap and holding me. On one particular occasion when I was over five and under ten, I was very sick— fever, nausea, and a young body that felt like it had been beaten. I know now it was probably the flu and probably contagious and yet there she was in our old rocking chair, at two in the morning, cradling me and holding me. That was Momma.

Sometimes Momma put on her Leonardo da Vinci hat and showed a designer flare. I can remember as a teenager I had a rather new pair of jeans—ordinary to some—valuable to me. I was horseback riding one day, and the horse cut a corner too sharply and ran me into a pole, ripping my jeans right above the knee. Bummer. My Momma simply cut the legs off the jeans where they were torn, put in some bright red cloth, and sewed them back together. There you go…good as new, and since it was the 70’s, it made a statement. I had a one-of-a-kind pair of jeans.

Two or three times a day Momma always put on her chef’s hat. A couple of years ago I made a thoughtless and inaccurate comment about Momma’s cooking not being “the best in the world.” Can someone say, “Dumb?” Can someone say, “Really?” No, Momma was a great cook and my waistline still proves it. She had the amazing ability to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. To me, her chicken and dumplings and blackberry dumplings were both legendary. Oh, and did I mention her fried corn beef hash? No, Chef Momma was amazing…and we loved her for it.

Yup, my Momma was amazing and the longer I live the more I realize just how blessed I was to have her. It has been said that men often marry women like their mothers. Well, that at least helps to explain the amazing wife that God has given me. In so many ways she too is that wife, that mother, that grandmother that so many wish they had. I don’t have to wish…Judy is my wish come true. Someone once said that a person who has one good friend in their life is blessed. Well, without going any further than my home I know I have had two—Momma and my precious wife Judy. Thank You, Lord…a bunch.

Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect Momma but a lot of us have been blessed with great ones. On this Mother’s Day, if Momma is still around, be sure and let her know how much you appreciate her. And if she isn’t…well, be sure and thank the Lord. And one more thought…be sure and thank your wife, for all she has done. Guys, trust me, we would be lost without them. Oh, and do remember this, there is a God who loves you more than your Momma ever could or did. It’s good to know that no matter what…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Simply Nonstick

Posted on October 18, 2024October 12, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Slip sliding away. Now let’s be honest and let’s be clear. I don’t have a clue about cooking, but I do know just a little about frying pans. Back in the old days when it came to frying pans it was cast iron or nothing and cast iron had and has its place. But some years ago, they started making frying pans that food stuff wouldn’t stick too. Well about seven or eight years ago we bought a pricy set of pots that were supposed to be stick proof and I guess for the first few years they were. Then, slowly, and as sure as a slug on a sidewalk, it stopped being non-stick.

Now my experience with frying pans is limited to frying, or maybe it is just cooking in a frying pan, eggbeaters for my breakfast and if you weren’t careful you ended up with a sticky mess. Sometimes there was more egg left in the pan than there was on my plate. Finally…my wife Judy said, “Enough.” She went to the Walmart store and bought one of those pans you see advertised on television. The ad said that “nothing would stick”. It showed eggs, burnt butter and cheese, you name it and with just a tilt of the pan—off it would go. Turns out that was not exactly true. I told her she should take the thing back, but she said it was too late.

Well, out of frustration I decided to try something. I sprayed the pan with some Pam…it’s like cooking oil in a spray can – I think. After spraying the pan, I poured some eggbeaters in and just like that – problem solved. Those eggs—or eggbeaters—were sliding all over the pan just like the commercial. It turns out all that the pan needed was a little help. The bottom line is it is good to have a pan that doesn’t try and keep my eggs.

You know that made me think. That pan and the spray stuff is a whole like God’s grace and our faith. Imagine with me that the pan is the grace of God. Grace simply means God’s unmerited favor. Now imagine that the spray on stuff is like faith. Faith is when we believe in something that we can’t see, touch, or feel. Put the two together and you have a combination that simply will not allow sin to stick and that is good news. Just like the eggbeaters slid right out that pan, so sin is forgiven and won’t stick around to condemn us. Grace and faith—what a wonderful combination.

Paul, the guy in the Bible who wrote a lot of the New Testament said this, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” “By grace through faith,” put the two together and your sin just won’t stick to your account. Gone. Forgiven. Banished. And just like the eggs, or eggbeaters, have little or nothing to do with their time in the pan so when it comes to God’s forgiveness that is true too. All we do is believe…everything else is on God. Oh, and just like the commercial…no sin and I mean no sin, is going to stick—no matter how big or bad. His grace is sufficient for the job. You gotta love it.

So, if the next time you are frying something, and it sticks to the pan—just head to the store and get you one of those fancy new ones. Oh, and don’t forget Pam. And the next time you get into deep weeds with your sin, just remember this story and step into God’s grace and your faith…it is a winning combo. No matter how big the mess…His grace is enough. All you need to do is ask for His forgiveness and I can already tell you His reply, “I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Just Follow the Recipe

Posted on October 7, 2024September 24, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

It sounds morbid but it’s not…I think. My wife Judy and I have been married forever and that means we are not quite as young as we used to be. Sometimes, to pass the time, we joke around and sometimes that includes what would happen if one of us was to uh, well, you know, pass. So, I’ve always told her if she was to go first, I wouldn’t remarry…I would just get a dog. I laugh and she laughs but then she always assures me that would never work. She and I both know just how much I depend on her to do life. I can clean house…kinda. I can wash clothes…sorta…you know, all in one big load but there is one thing that I can’t do. I can’t cook.

When she leaves town to babysit or whatever, the menu at the Taylor house changes dramatically. If it is anything more than grits in the microwave, a sandwich, or a frozen dinner…we are in deep weeds. So, the other day, when my friend David began talking about cooking, I started listening. He is a great cook. On that particular day it was a smoked Boston butt with the fixings and a homemade, handmade peach cobbler with homemade ice cream. Like I said…he can cook.

As we were talking about cooking, he mentioned that he had a food scale and instead of measuring all the ingredients, he weighed all the ingredients (in grams). So instead of a cup of flour you might have 283 grams of flour. He said that most recipes give the amounts in grams too. And, if you do this, it becomes easy to follow a recipe and if I could follow a recipe, I should be able to cook. Boom! The cooking problem solved, and I could still get a dog.

The big thing about the scale is that it is just more accurate. A packed cup of flour is probably a lot more than a cup of flour loosely put in the cup. Well, the more accurate the measurements are, the better the end result. Are you tracking with me? The scale is a game changer and guess what? So is God. Just like the scale would help me stay on track with the recipe, so God can and will help me walk the path of life. With Him, life isn’t perfect, but it is better…so much better.

The reason I am a terrible cook isn’t that I can’t read, it is that I want to change the recipe. I always figure if one cup of sugar is good…two would certainly be better. If a teaspoon of cinnamon is good in an apple pie…well, two should be twice as good. But if I had a scale and was willing to follow the scale…I could make a perfect pie every time. And when I, when we, are willing to follow God in the recipe of life…we can cook up some good pies…trust me.

I have grown to love something that is recorded in one of the Old Testament books. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I know that is written to the nation of Israel, but I also know the truth is written for every one of God’s kids. So, as you are whipping up days and experiences in the kitchen of life, be sure and invite God to come along. Follow Him and the disasters are fewer and farther apart. When the dust from the flour clears, you can be assured that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Simply Nonstick

Posted on October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Now my experience with frying pans is limited to frying, or maybe it is just cooking in a frying pan, eggbeaters for my breakfast and if you weren’t careful you ended up with a sticky mess. Sometimes there was more egg left in the pan than there was on my plate. Finally…my wife Judy said enough. She went to the Walmart store and bought one of those pans you see advertised on television. The ad said that “nothing would stick”. It showed eggs, burnt butter and cheese, you name it and with just a tilt of the pan—off it would go. Turns out that was not exactly true. I told her she should take the thing back, but she said it was too late.

You know that made me think. That pan and the spray stuff is a whole like God’s grace and our faith. Imagine with me that the pan is the grace of God. Grace simply means God’s unmerited favor. Now imagine that the spray on stuff is like faith. Faith is when we believe something that we can’t see, touch, or feel. Put the two together and you have a combination that simply will not allow sin to stick and that is good news. Just like the eggbeaters slid right out that pan, so sin is forgiven and won’t stick around to condemn us. Grace and faith—what a wonderful combination.

So, if the next time you are frying something, and it sticks to the pan—just head to the store and get you one of those fancy new ones. Oh, and don’t forget the Pam. And the next time you get into deep weeds with your sin, just remember this story and step into God’s grace and your faith…it is a winning combo. No matter how big the mess…His grace is enough. All you need to do is ask for His forgiveness and I can already tell you His reply—I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, Integrity, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful

Just Follow the Recipe

Posted on September 14, 2022September 13, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

When she leaves town to babysit or whatever, the menu at the Taylor house changes dramatically. If it is anything more than grits in the microwave, a sandwich, or a frozen dinner…we are in deep weeds. So, the other day, when my friend David began talking about cooking, I started listening. He is a great cook…actually on that particular day it was a smoked Boston butt with the fixings and a homemade, handmade peach cobbler with homemade ice cream. Like I said…he can cook.

As we were talking about cooking, he mentioned that he had a scale and instead of measuring all the ingredients, he weighed all the ingredients (in grams). So instead of a cup of flour you might have 283 grams of flour. He said that most recipes give the amounts in grams too. And, if you do this, it becomes really easy to follow a recipe and if I could follow a recipe, I should be able to cook. Boom! Cooking problem solved and I could still get a dog.