Last week I got excited when I got my produce bag from Rooster Head Farms. They do a great contact- less drop off of a nice full produce bag weekly ( or whenever you want it) and I have been so happy with what has been in the bag. Last week not only were there collard greens but there was a bag of dry pinto beans.
Well tickle me Southern because when I saw those I got pretty doggone excited. Of course I did not grow up in the south but after living in North Carolina for a total of over 15 years I have come to love a lot of the great foods that are popular in the south.
I set out to cook a good southern meal and I succeeded. Chris said it was the best meal he had had for awhile so I took that as high praise. Ham, cornbread muffins, collards and bacon, pinto beans with onions and chow chow and life was very good.
It is so interesting to me how easy it is to come to love the dishes and foods that are typical to a certain area or region. I guess wherever we go we try to embrace new things and include them into our lives. While we lived in Australia we loved English breakfasts complete with grilled tomatoes, baked beans and mushrooms and I sometimes try to recreate that at home.
Interested in what recipes I used? Click here for the link to the collard green recipe and click here for the link for the pinto bean recipe.
If you are not familiar with chow chow it is a wonderful addition to a lot of southern foods but I love it on my pinto beans. Southern chow chow is typically made with just chopped bell peppers, green tomatoes, sweet onions, and cabbage. Northern chow chow on the other hand can consist of everything from cauliflower, carrots, beans, onions, bell peppers, and more. However it is made it is a great addition.
What foods are you making that are perhaps a regional favorite? I would love to read all about it so leave me a comment and Comment for a Cause – Copeland Oaks Library.
