Some mornings, you wake up, and your taste buds already know what they want. Today? Collard greens. Been thinking about ’em since sunup, so I figured, let’s get busy. Now, these ain’t fresh-picked out the garden, these are your regular Glory collards. I love me some fresh greens when I can get my hands on ’em, but when life’s moving fast, these canned greens do fine. Keep a few stashed in your pantry.
I start by pouring that canned juice off. None of that water for me. Instead, I bathe my greens in a bit of chicken broth or beef broth—whichever mood I’m in. Adds that extra kick. Then I toss the greens into the crockpot, set it for two hours. Ain’t much to it—they’re already cooked and seasoned. All we’re doing here is slow-dancing them to taste.
Now, let’s talk about Jowel bacon. I don’t eat it often, but when I do, it’s a damn treat. Folks might wave their fingers and say, “Oh, that’s bad for you.” But hell, a little ain’t gonna kill you. Life’s about balance, aint it? So, I cut that Joe bacon into pieces, slide it in the oven, and let it crisp up. Here’s the kicker: I save that bacon grease—yes, I do—and drizzle just a touch into the greens. Add some red pepper flakes for a bit of bite, and a couple tablespoons of white vinegar to brighten it up. Stir it all up.
No plate of greens is complete without cornbread, though—just straight-up, no-frills Southern cornbread. I grab about two cups of yellow cornmeal, mix in a cup and a half of milk (just regular milk; I save buttermilk for other days), and one egg. Stir it up. Here’s my secret weapon: about a quarter cup of hot vegetable oil goes straight into the mix. That heat gives it a crust that’ll make you wanna slap the table. Oven at 450°F, and 20 minutes later? Heaven in a skillet.
And don’t forget the raw white onion. Chop it up fine, sprinkle it on top, and you’ve got yourself a meal that hits all the right notes. Greens, bacon, cornbread, and that little onion tang? That’s soul food right there—simple, warm, and full of flavor. This is the kind of plate that sings to your spirit, reminds you where you’re from.
Yum, yum. You want some? What’s your go-to food when you’re craving a little piece of home? Drop it in the comments.