Grandmother's Southern Fried Okra

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb Fresh okra, cut 1 inch pieces
1 lg Green tomato, diced
1 med Onion chopped
1 Clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 Jalapeno pepper halved & sliced, remove seeds if too hot
2 Eggs beaten
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black pepper
1/2 c Milk
1 c Cornmeal
1/4 c Vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:
Combine okra, tomato, onion, garlic & jalapeno in large bowl. In separate bowl combine eggs, salt, pepper, milk. Pour egg mix over veggies and toss to thoroughly coat. Gradually add cornmeal until mixture on the okra and at the bottom of the bowl soaked up. Continue to toss till ingredients evenly mixed. Mixture will have a gooey consistency.

Heat oil in 10 inch skillet over med. heat until hot. Oil is ready when dash of cornmeal sizzles.
Spoon mixture evenly in skillet. Reduce heat to med low. Cover and fry till underside golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Then invert on plate and slide otherside up into skillet and cook uncovered 5-8 min until golden brown. Remove from skillet to paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot.

Yield: 6 servings

Black-eyed Peas With Ham

INGREDIENTS:
3 1/2 c Fresh black-eyed peas or Frozen, thawed
3 c Chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
4 oz Ham, finely chopped
1 sm Yellow onion, chopped
2 tb Balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
3 lg Garlic cloves, minced
1 Bay leaf
1/2 ts Dried thyme, crumbled
1/4 ts Dried crushed red pepper

Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until peas are tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Yield: 6 servings

All- American Pork Baby Back Ribs

INGREDIENTS:
4 pounds pork back ribs
Your favorite barbecue sauce (purchased or homemade)

Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place ribs on a medium-hot grill over indirect heat; close grill hood and grill until ribs are tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (add more charcoal briquettes to fire, if necessary, to maintain grill temperature of about 325-350 degrees F.) Finish by turning and basting ribs with barbecue sauce for the last 15 minutes. Serve ribs directly from the grill or, for extra tender ribs remove from grill, wrap in heavy aluminum foil. Place foil-wrapped ribs in brown paper bags, close bags and let ribs rest for up to an hour. Unwrap ribs, cut into serving pieces and serve with extra barbecue sauce.

Yield: 4 servings