Mary Ellen's Collard Greens (Southern Style)
- 5 slice thick bacon
- 1 medium onion (sliced or minced)
- 2 clove garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 bunch collard greens (i bought mine at Walmart) but any kind of greens can be cooked this way
- 2 large piece of either a hamhock, ham peices, a ham bone, smoked turkey
- 1/2 cup broth ... i used the broth from hamhocks
- 2 red hot peppers or 1 hot pepper. i used a dash of vinegar from my pepper jar.
- 1 dash baking soda (so they will remain green and to cut down on gas)
- 1 **** don't use smoked neckbones because they tend to leave those little bones in the greens.
- 1 *** if they are freshly picked greens it would be a plastic grocery bag packed full.
- HOLIDAY GREENS!!!
- !
- IF YOU HAVE STORE BOUGHT COLLARDS WASH AND GO TO STEP#4....
- clean the greens by removing any worm holes or brown spots.
- remove stem because they can be tough.
- wash the leaves in a sink full of water with 1/4 cup vinegar OR 1/8 cup of salt.
- lay approximately 5-6 leaves on top of each other and roll tight .. cut the roll every 1-2 inches.
- cut up all the greens.
- I'm paranoid so I wash them again in vinegar water twice.
- this assures that they are clean.
- clean cut up greens can be frozen in a Ziploc freezer bag for a time when they are not available.
- fry about 5-6 slices of bacon, I like pepper bacon.
- it should make enough grease to have grease in the bottom.
- in drippings add onion and garlic.
- stir for about 2 minutes to release flavors in oil.
- fill pot with greens.. make sure fire is on medium.
- as there becomes more room in the pot put more in to wilt.
- keep the process going until you have added al the greens you wish to cook.
- keep stirring until all the greens are covered with drippings.
- *** I have an ELECTRIC pressure cooker... if u have never used one it is a must... it can cook a frozen steak or chicken in less than an hour... it tenderizes tough cuts of meat like a roast or hamhocks in about 45- 60 minutes.
- they will be fall off the bone tender...and ready to use for beans or greens..
- I put my hamhocks in the pressure cooker for 45 minutes with enough water to cover the hamhock 1/2 way with onion, salt, pepper.
- if u don't use a pressure cooker then boil the hamhock in a covered pot for 1 1/2 hr with a splash of vinegar in a pot.
- the vinegar will help it tenderize.
- add about 1/8 cup of vinegar per pot of greens.
- add a dash of baking soda to cut gas and keep green...
- I use about 1/4 cup of the broth and lay the hamhock and whole hot pepper laid on top.
- turn fire down to Med low and let them cook for 45 Minutes.
- *** save the broth from hamhock to season canned or frozen veggies.
- I will put a recipe on my profile to season veggies that are canned or frozen.
bacon, onion, clove garlic, salt, pepper, collard greens, either, hamhocks, red hot peppers, baking soda
Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/336155-mary-ellens-collard-greens-southern-style (may not work)