Best Damn Greens Recipe

As a southerner, I'm contractually obligated to love greens. I've tried over the years to approximate the melting and porky goodness found in the greens at southern soul food restaurants. Dancing around with using bacon or even pancetta, I've never hit the bulls-eye. That is until last night. Using turnip and collard greens with smoked pork neck bones proved to be the magic trick.

Ingredients:
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. smoked pork neck bones
• 1 lb. bunch turnip greens, stems removed, well rinsed and cut in ribbons
• 1 lb. bunch collard greens, stems removed, well rinsed and cut in ribbons

Sautee the red onion in a deep pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic once onion is softened and sautee until fragrant. Add neck bones and sautee briefly.

Cover with water to top of bones. Simmer for 1 hour to 90 minutes covered.

Add greens to pot and simmer covered for 2 hours. Add more water if pot gets dry.

Serve with cider vinegar and/or hot sauce if desired.

Pictured above: Brunswick stew, sweet potato souffle, black-eyed peas, buttermilk biscuit and best damn greens.