Hominy

Hominy is a special type of corn that is treated with something called "lye" (which in this case is a kind of chemical made from ash and water). This process helps to remove the outer layer of the corn, which is known as the "hull".

After being soaked in the lye, the corn expands and turns into little balls, which are called "hominy". They can be cooked and eaten in many different ways and are used in a lot of traditional dishes like grits, tamales, and pozole.

In summary, hominy is a type of corn that has been treated with a special chemical to remove its outer layer, turning it into little balls that can be used in many different dishes.