Well, you should know by now

that we love good ole Southern Cooking -

Soul Food, if you will - 

It's what we grew up on...

 

So I'll share a bit about how to create this plate of deliciousness...  

Pinto Beans, cornbread, fried squash, and greens.

Yum.

 I'll share how I make it - but keep in mind there's no 'real' - as in 'written down' recipes.

The pinto beans are incredibly fast and easy in the 

instant pot [my new favorite cooking appliance!]

I do soak them overnight and then put them in the pot, add seasoning [southern style: bacon + salt / pepper; new orleans style: bay leaf + sausage and hot sauce; and Craig makes a delicious pot seasoned with a bit of chili powder] cover with water and set on ' beans for the pressure cooker - they're ready within thirty minutes. 

For the fried squash I slice the squash [zucchini and / or yellow squash] thinly into a pie plate and toss a few spoonfuls of [white] cornmeal mix [has flour in it -- look at the packaging] on top. Toss around until it's all covered then fry in a single layer of oil [in a pan] on the stove top. Drain on paper towels.

Greens - I usually just buy the Glory Brand in a can. Ha.

I've never made greens that I loved - 

But with the new pressure cooker, it just might happen.

And now to the cornbread.

I love my cornbread [is that terrible to admit?] 

It's taken me years to get to this point - but it's really very easy to do --

Put a stick of butter in the pan you plan to use  

[sometimes I use cast iron, but it's vintage pyrex more often these days]

and put in the oven while it preheats to 425* or 450* 

While the butter is melting I put  3 - 4 cups of [self-rising]  corn meal mix [again, LOOK at the packaging] in a mixing bowl, add a couple of eggs, and then stir enough milk so that it looks like cake batter - be sure to scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl [it's a little runny.] 

That's it. 

Pour it into the pan of melted butter [it will push the butter up the sides and around the top of the batter] and bake for 20 - 30 minutes until golden brown on top.  

Now - if you REALLY want to get Southern [ha] - put a chunk of your left over cornbread in a cup and pour milk over it [buttermilk or sweet milk - whichever you prefer.]

There's nothing that beats a good cold cup of cornbread and milk!

Enjoy!