I am laying here in bed trying to digest the massive amounts of food I ate tonight! We got the VIP treatment at Paula’s Lady and Sons restaurant. All I can say is that it ROCKED!! I cannot wait to take Jack there when he gets in on Wednesday. In honor of a great meal I am going to post Paula’s recipes for her hoecakes and collared greens! Make them…you will not be disappointed.
Paula’s Hoecakes
This is basically a corn pancake that is pan fried in oil and butter.
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup self-rising cornmeal, or from a mix (recommended: Aunt Jemima’s)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup vegetable oil or bacon grease
Oil, butter, or clarified margarine, for frying
Mix well all ingredients, except for the frying oil. Heat the frying oil or butter in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Drop the batter, by full tablespoons, into the hot skillet. Use about 2 tablespoons of batter per hoecake. Fry each hoecake until brown and crisp; turn each hoecake with a spatula, and then brown the other side. With a slotted spoon, remove each hoecake to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Leftover batter will keep in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Lady and Sons Collared Greens
A traditional southern favorite that will go great on your table too, collards are a new years tradition in the south as well!
Ingredients:
1 large bunch collard greens
1 tablespoon Paula Deen’s Seasoned Salt
1 tablespoon Paula Deen’s Hot Sauce
1/2 lb smoked meat (ham hocks, smoked turkey wings, or smoked neck bones)
1 tablespoon butter
Directions
In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add smoked meat, house seasoning, seasoned salt and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 hour.
Wash the collard greens thoroughly. Remove the stems that run down the center by holding the leaf in your left hand and stripping the leaf down with your right hand. The tender young leaves in the heart of the collards don’t need to be stripped. Stack 6 to 8 leaves on top of one another, roll up, and slice into 1/2 to 1-inch thick slices. Place greens in pot with meat and add butter. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve with favorite dish as a side.
I ADORE Paula's recipe for collard greens. I actually made it this winter for my country-boy husband, Mike, and he LOVED them!