Soul Food

[MamaK88]

OK,

Last night, in celebration of MLK Day and the inauguration of our first Black president...this little White girl from Nebraska attempted to make Soul Food for dinner. 

We had Fried Chicken, Collard Greens, Black-eyed Peas, Southern-fried Potatoes, and Corn Bread. 

We had my 12yo SS with us as he didn't have school, of course.  We had to take a trip to the store for some supplies...I gave him the option of coming with DD and me or staying home.  He chose to come with.  *ugh* 

So I start dinner, SS's downstairs gaming on the computer...I had to call him 3 times to get him upstairs to help me.  I had him do the corn bread...just add water...should be simple, right?  Took him 10 minutes. 

Then I had him help with the greens.  I showed him how to do it.  He could quite get it.  What's so hard about "bite-sized pieces"? 

So DH gets home...everything is still cooking.  W have a tiny fryer...could only do one chicken quarter at a time (tho I shoulda disjointed them as we found out later).  The greens were in the pot with the bacon and garlic and onions.  The black-eyed peas were simmering.  Potatoes in the skillet frying.  Corn bread in the oven.  DD in her back pack thingy on my back.  I ask DH to "take the monkey off my back" so I could finish up.  He does and he and the kids go to chill in the living room.  DH asks where the mail was...I look at him sideways..."Oh yeah."   dumbass

So we get our food and sit down to dinner.  At first SS takes a whole mess of greens.  "Put some of those back, Boy...you don't know if you'll like'em or not." I tell him.  Now this boy is notorious for having eyes way bigger than his tummy.  (Being raised on pre-fab box dinners...he doesn't know how to portion for himself...also this is a child who gets "full" when it comes to eating the crusts of bread on his sandwiches...but can eat a bag of chips and a dozen cookies in one sitting.) 

So we sit down.  The greens are of course kinda bitter...so my beloved's son sits there and pouts, staring at his plate.  Now this boy is 12.  T-W-E-L-V-E!  And his stupid BM (which works both ways as she's his bio mom and a piece of shit) always thought it was "mean" to force kids to eat icky veggies and such.  (She's on Nutrisystem, her 20y/o daughter is 300#, and SS already has a gut.)  So SS was never required to eat everything on his plate (like his Dad always wanted) until a few years ago when I came into his life.  And he was apparently never taught that it was inappropriate  for a 12yo to CRY at the dinner table 'cuz he had to eat something he didn't like.  *ugh*

Well by and by we discover the chicken was undercooked...so I had to disjoint it and refry it. 

Still SS sits, pouting...not allowed to eat anything els till his greens are gone (as is our rule). 

The Black-eyed peas were mushy...over did them a bit.  whatever

I Really liked the greens.  DH didn't care for them...but ATE them...showing SS it is possible to eat something you don't like without dropping dead from it. 

He begrudgingly takes tiny bites.  We tried to explain to him he was just prolonging his agony.  When I was a kid and had something on my plate I didn't like (like acorn squash) I would eat it first and as quickly as possible.  "Worst first, best last!" 

*pout*  *eyeroll*

ugh

In the house I grew up in, there were only two options for dinner:  take it or leave it. 

But any way...DD likes corn bread. 

[sassylitmom]

Jan. 20, 2009 at 1:35 PM

Man ....u made me want to cook that for dinner:) YUMMY

[ivansmom07]

Jan. 20, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Yum...I've always wanted to cook a complete southern meal.  You have inspired me!

[Momma_Halo]

Jan. 20, 2009 at 2:40 PM

I miss the south! Ugh that sounds sooo good! I want some cornbread in milk right now.

[Dr.MomPh.D.]

Jan. 22, 2009 at 8:17 AM

What a great idea for a meal! I may adapt this for an annual tradition. Thanks for the inspiration (and I can't wait to try greens - I've never made them before, as I'm a white girl from New York State).