Lori Tomlinson, age 7, of Roanoke, Va., for her question:

DOES HOMINY GROW THAT WAY?

When you find hominy on your dinner plate, you see little white puffs of a soft, corn like vegetable. The food does not look this way as it grows.

Actually, hominy is made from a type of hulled Indian corn. The grains of corn are soaked in a weak lye solution. This soaking causes the kernels to puff up. The skins come free and float to the top of the liquid.

After the hominy kernels are carefully washed, they are ready to be cooked. Hominy is usually then canned and sent to market.

Hominy has been a favorite dish in the South since pioneer days. It may be boiled or fried and is usually served with meat. Ground hominy is called grits.