Happy day after Christmas! I sure hope you all had a blessed day as much as we did. Fun day of eating, hanging with family and counting our many blessings this time of year. I shared some pics under Photos on my Facebook page if you want to see how we celebrated our morning with breakfast, opening gifts and family time.
This post has nothing to do with the Holidays, but I just had to share what my sweet Daddy is growing in the garden right now. Since summer crops are over and done, he always plants a few rows of greens: mustard and turnips are the norm around here, with some broccoli thrown in for good measure. And this year, he tried out kale and it’s doing well too. We had greens on our Christmas table too!
Eating greens is one of the best things you can consume for good health, you know?
They are growing like crazy this year, so we are getting our share of greens. This is kale.
Mustard greens are my fave, with kale right up there too. My mom cooks them all up with a little meat, like hambone and I think she might use a little bacon grease. I know, but it sure adds flavor. We also use hot pepper sauce over them to really spice them up.
These are turnips.
How cute is my dad with his broccoli crop? We’ve been eating lots of these greens for the last couple of months. All those green leafy vegetables are so great for you.
He piles them in a big pan and my mom washes them and cooks them up.
Yum-Yum! Don’t forget to drink the pot likker too. You know what that is, right? 🙂
Are you eating your greens?
Your dad’s garden is fabulous! I love greens of any type but don’t grow them myself. My running friend does and we sure do enjoy them when he shares. Yes, I like to drink the pot likker!
Wow! Your dad is quite the gardener. I love broccoli but have never tried mustard greens, etc. We eat a lot of salads and I am hoping to do some container gardening in a few more months. Too much frost here right now. Thanks for sharing the pictures and tips on how to prepare some of these foods.
Hi Rhoda,
That is the cutest picture of your dad with his broccoli heads. We couldn’t wait long enough for ours to get that big. My husband cooked up a big mess of collard greens Christmas Eve. He uses an old family recipe, and if you’d like to try it, it’s here:http://cottageatthecrossroads.com/my-collard-greens-recipe/
But I’m sure your mom has her own special recipe!
Oh that photo of your dad is so cute! What a wonderful garden! I just love all types of greens….Since I have moved to the South, I especially love collards now….Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Hi Rhoda, I’m glad you enjoyed your Christmas Day. I want you to know I wore my new apron! I am finally getting to thank you, again, for sending me the book and the apron. I really appreciate that you sent it. I hope this new year holds many great blessings for you!
I love your dad and his zest for living. What a beautiful garden of such healthy food. Love your blog and looking forward to following your journey in 2012:)
Please share a simple Southern recipe for smothered greens! Maybe your mom has a few tricks to share?
Hi, Vicki, it’s all about simmering them in pork. My mom usually uses pieces of ham or pork to season all her greens. A hambone or even bacon fried with a little bacon grease can do the job too. That’s the best way to season those greens. We eat plenty of them this time of year! Add some vinegar hot sauce and they are great.
Wonderful picture of your Dad and in a Presidential hat. His broccoli is beautiful.
Ms. Rhoda,
When I first read the title I immediately thought of New Year’s Day dinner. Although we had mustard greens with our CHRISTmas dinner for some reason when I think greens this time of year my mind goes straight to black eye peas, greens, and schnitzel for New Years. 🙂 (My grandmother was from Austria, that’s why we have schnitzel.)
I so enjoy reading your blog. I pray the Lord blesses you and your family in the coming year!
Hi, Jenni, yes New Years is a perfect time for greens too & I’m sure they will be on our table on New Years Day as well as Black-eyed peas and cornbread. Those 3 alone would be a good Southern meal! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Happy Holidays, Rhoda! It’s our first as singles! I don’t know if I’ve ever had all those things your dad grows, or in that way your mom cooks them. But they sure sound good to me!
Brenda
I made a crockpot of collard greens. They were delicious!
I hope you and your family have a blessed New Year!
I should be eating more of them for sure…Hope you had a fabulous Christmas!
Blessings,
Linda
Looks beautiful and delicious. Ahh how wonderful to be able to grow at this time of year. Our ground is thoroughly frozen!
Oh yum, I’ve been dying for some greens! We’ve got a patch we planted in with the rye grass for the deer. I’ve been checking with hubby often to see how they’ve grown and I do think they are finally big enough to pick a mess from. Although he keeps informing me they’re small but that’s when they’re sooooo yummy! It’s been raining here for a couple days now and I KNOW if I get out there I will bog up to my knees in mud! lol
Man those broccoli look yummy to that your Dad was holding!
Hey Rho:
You know that I love eating those greens. My Daddy grew all of those wonderful greens and now my Son Dwayne grows collards, broccoli…etc. I am in Austin…yeah, so happy to be back in TX. I will probably go to Whole Foods and purchase some greens to cook for my children out here. I love that picture of your Daddy. He is such a wonderful man. You are so blessed to have your parents. I truly miss my Mama and Daddy.
I was watching ‘You Don’t Know Dixie’ on the History Channel the other day. I can’t remember which southern gentleman host (there were several) said it, that after the War of Northern Aggression ended every person in the south had been affected. Every southerner had to learn to be a survivor. Cornbread, greens, and blackeyed peas were a staple then and still loved by real southerners. Yes, cooking them with REAL bacon and a few sprinkles of vinegar hot sauce really adds to the flavor. Bottoms up on the pot likker! Just a few days until New Year’s Day and ‘peas for plenty’ and greens for ‘greenbacks’.
I am a turnip green fanatic! I love them with vinegar. I had to teach my hubby to eat them. Your dad is wonderful to keep you supplied with greens.
Yep, I sure do know about Pot Likker!! My grandma always saved her Pot Likker by freezing what wasn’t consumed in a big jar. When someone had a cold she would scoop out a few spoonfuls, heat that Likker up and serve it to you in a coffee cup. She swore by the Likker’s healing powers!! She also used it as a base for her soups too.
I love the picture of your daddy!
I found your blog today and I love all the pictures of your previous home and then I saw the picture of your dad.. Oh my.. it brought tears to my eyes because my daddy loved his gardening.. My 79 year-old mom now tends to it.. I miss my dad so much. He’s been gone 12 years….I am a Georgia girl to and you know what I mean when I say I was a “daddy’s girl” but nothing like moms love to……thanks for sharing…. I am an instant fan!!