Sure! Here’s a rephrased version of your content:
—
The other day, I received a card in the mail with some heartbreaking news. Someone very dear to me had passed away in February. It was his daughter who wrote to share the news. He and his wife were incredibly special to me and my family. His wife had passed away seven years ago.
Growing up in Florida, with my grandparents living all the way in California, this couple became my surrogate grandparents. We even called them Grandma and Grandpa. They proudly showed off pictures of my family to anyone who would listen, saying, “Look at my grandkids!” They were Caucasian, and we’re not (I’m Vietnamese-American). I remember a few times when someone pointed out that we didn’t look alike, and Grandma always set them straight. Thinking about it now makes me laugh out loud—she was a force to be reckoned with.
It took me a while to sit down and write back to their daughter. When I first received the card, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion, and even writing her back was difficult.
How do you put into words something so significant? How do you convey that her parents had such a profound impact on my childhood? They were instrumental in shaping the person I am today. I told her my biggest regret was not visiting him in Pittsburgh before he passed. They had moved back to Pennsylvania about eight years ago when Grandma’s health began to decline. I wish I had made the trip. But deep down, I know they knew how much they meant to me.
There was a time when my mom was a single mother raising six kids. It wasn’t easy. Grandma and Grandpa often showed up with bags of groceries. My mom never asked—they just did it because they cared.
Grandma would take us on shopping trips to TJ Maxx and Marshalls. She had this rule: don’t touch anything! LOL. She’d give us a budget and let us pick out one item within that limit, which she’d buy for us. As a kid, that meant the world to me. In high school, they drove us to and from softball practice. They even spent Thanksgivings and Christmases with us.
They were special because they were there for us when our biological grandparents couldn’t be. They gave us their time, love, and generosity without ever expecting anything in return. They taught me what unconditional love looks like and that family isn’t just about blood. Grandpa taught me patience (something I’m still working on, haha), and Grandma taught me to stand up for myself.
I love them and miss them deeply. I feel incredibly grateful and lucky to have had them in my life.
—
**On Cooking Shrimp and Grits:**
Now, onto the shrimp and grits! As I prepped the shrimp, I tossed them with Dijon mustard. I had just enough spreadable butter left in the tub, so I used it to whip up a spicy sriracha butter for the shrimp. Curtis is obsessed with Land O’Lakes® Spreadable Butter—we go through it so fast in our house! It’s perfect for making compound butters or spreading on toast without tearing it apart.
When I made grits from *The Ravenous Pig* cookbook, I realized I was out of chicken broth. I substituted water and butter instead, and they turned out amazing! From now on, that’s how I’ll make them—using heavy cream, water, and butter.
For this recipe, I swapped bacon fat with olive oil and added goat cheese to the grits. If goat cheese isn’t your thing, sharp cheddar works just as well! The grits ended up perfectly creamy. And if they cool down or you’re reheating leftovers, just add a splash of water, mix well, and microwave—good as new.
I cooked the shrimp in a cast-iron skillet and brushed them with the spicy sriracha butter. Grandma and Grandpa weren’t true Southerners since they were from Pennsylvania, but I think they would’ve loved this recipe.
This shrimp and grits recipe has officially become my go-to, and I’m confident you’ll love it too.
*Note: I have an ongoing relationship with Land O’Lakes and have done sponsored posts for them in the past. However, this post isn’t sponsored—I just love sharing my favorite products and brands. (P.S. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!)*
—
Let me know if you’d like further tweaks! 😊
