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POT LIKKER, RED-EYE GRAVY, GRITS AND BURGOO

© Vaudie E. Harrison

This week we're gonna get away from all that sweet stuff that I've been telling you about the past few weeks.

We're going to visit some "good 'ole down-home southern" cooking. Some people have been known to call it "soul food" although that's not exactly accurate. True "soul food" involves a whole lot more and we'll touch on that subject another time.

I'd be willing to bet that at least some of you are out there scratching your heads and wondering just what in the world is "Pot Likker" and perhaps asking who ever heard of "Burgoo". Well, to those of us who grew up in the Southern or Southwestern United States, these things were part of growing up and we wonder why YOU don't know what they are. Works both ways, you see.

I'll provide links to recipes for all of the things we'll talk about today. That way you can try these dishes for yourself and enjoy true "Southern Cooking" no matter where you may live.

In the old South, times were sometimes hard and people fed themselves and their families with whatever they could gather or store. Therefore things like Collard, Turnip and Mustard greens became somewhat of a staple on Southern tables along with such things as Salt Pork for seasoning since it stored so well.

From such times came "Pot Likker" which was said to be a favorite of the late Senator (and Governor) Huey P. Long. This dish is simply the juices left in the pot after cooking up a "mess" of greens. Sounds simple, and it is, but there is still a correct way to cook and serve this dish. I said simple, but correctly cooked and served, it's delicious. Made wrong, and it's terrible.

"Red-Eye Gravy" is said to have been invented around a campfire when the camp cook didn't have milk or water to make gravy. He used some left-over black coffee instead and that unknown soul is credited with the invention of a new taste treat. Served over ham, it's great.

"Grits" is a Southern staple that sometimes confuses Northern visitors. You see, people down South love to tell tales of the "Grits Tree" and how the fruit of the tree is hard to gather and prepare. All us Southerners know just how gullible those "Yankees" can be and love to have some fun at their expense. Go to the "Grits" link below and you'll find the truth as well as some recipes.

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