Did I have time to squeeze in a restorative paddle? Earlier this week, I cooked Salubrious Turnip Greens and Roots. Luckily I knew Grill Man would love greens served along side a fresh skillet of cornbread. Any Southern girl can whip up a pan of hot crusty cornbread without a lot of fuss. Before you know it, dinner is ready with fresh homegrown sliced tomatoes, Vidalia onions and turnip greens.

Fresh vegetables are good but Grill Man is an unabashed meat-eater. He believes that it should be present and accounted for on every plate. However, fresh home cooked greens served with hot cornbread is enough to make him forget about a meatless plate. In my book, this is a win for a number of reasons including our health.

Pay attention to the world around you

A win that would also help lead me to my Dauphin Island restorative paddle. After dinner the gloomy rain clouds blew away from our little spot on the island. Rains from earlier in the day had tamped down the heat of August.

On the porch, I could hear the birds chirping my Dauphin Island restorative paddle harbinger song. It almost sounded like, “Day is almost over, get out here if you want to paddle”. Who am I to argue with Mother Nature’s harbinger chirps? Once I decided to squeeze in the paddle I could not get out there fast enough.

I will try to describe the utter joy I experienced. My pink paddle board slid quietly into the water and off we went. Water and wind conditions totally impact the type of paddle that you may experience on any given day. I have paddled in still water, rolling waves, choppy waves and washing machine water. Any day that the weather, wind and water conditions are paddle friendly is a good day.

At the same time, if stars are lining up in your favor the water is almost still and shiny as glass. As I paddled, the reflections in the water started to mesmerize me. Blue and white fluffy clouds were dancing on the water as my pink board shattered the images as I paddled. Occasionally I looked up from the dazzling array of colors, clouds, trees, grasses, birds flying and mirrored images on the water.

Images sped by at the speed of my paddle. If I stopped paddling and lifted the paddle from the water my board would wind its speed down to a complete stop. With no one else on the water it appeared as if I was standing on the largest piece of glass capturing a fading sunset with hints of orange and pink.

Of course, I didn’t have my camera with me on the board. And yet I wasn’t sure that the stunning beauty that I witnessed could be captured with a camera. With intent I studied the scene so that I could at least try to remember natures panorama of sights and sounds.

Be present in the moment

Occasionally, a greeting party surfaced to announce dominion over a water spot. As I share this, it seems silly to get excited about seeing a jelly fish floating or a crab swimming in the water. As I paddled alone on the water near sun down the day light started fading so I started my return home.

My board slid easily across the water with minimal effort. At the edge of a days end the surroundings and still water change. Night beckons in the distance as fish are feeding. Bait fish move just beneath the waters surface to create a break in the glassy water. This slight movement always make me wonder what else is moving in the water.

As I was paddling home, I noticed what looked like a small fin in the water. With purpose, I paddled a little bit closer to identify. In horror movies, this is where the audience screams at the actress to go the other way. As I edged slowly closer to the fin, the Jaws theme song crept into my airwaves. As I looked down a very large fish near the waters surface ate his late afternoon snack. In fact he seemed surprised by my attention, turned around quickly and swam away.

As I paddled back home birds started swirling high in the sky above the grassy areas near the waters edge. A symphony of crickets and frogs increased their volume to drown out the birds. Just then a mullet jumped out of the water and hit my board. I confess I screamed like a girl but a girl that stayed her board.

I paddled on back but a little faster. Nature had lured me into her domain with falling temperature, promise of sunset and glassy water. My Dauphin Island restorative paddle had provided movement and a diversion for my mind and body. Yet, clearly nature had sent me a sign and it read, “Day is almost over, get your ass back home.”

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Certainly all of us benefit from eating more fresh fruit and vegetables. As I age, I am painfully aware of the necessity to take care of my body. This possibly could be due to the length of time I have actually spent inhabiting the space and my overall attachment to it. Preventive maintenance is a smarter path to take than trying to heal or cure an ailment.

Eating a healthy food and regular exercise is the closest thing that we have to a fountain of youth or anti-aging magic. If you know another secret, please hook a sister up.

Winning Trio Health Benefits

I love the way I feel when I eat turnips and rutabagas. Is there a reason for this euphoria? What are the health benefits? Why should you eat greens and roots? Should anyone avoid eating greens?

Here is a short list of ways that the winning trio may improve your overall health but not comprehensive by any means.

• Improved healthy skin and hair
• Reducing anemia
• Osteoporosis prevention
• Aids with digestion
• Strengthens immunity
• Aids in weight loss
• Aids in cancer prevention
• Aids in improved sleep and mood
• Aids patients with Diabetes
• Aids in reducing cholesterol

It is always important to be balanced in any changes that we make in our life or diet. If you have any concerns, please research and consult with your physician.

Risk associated with increased Vitamin K or high Nitrate diet.

Warning: If you are currently taking a blood thinner you should discuss with your Doctor or Pharmacist for acceptable amounts if any are allowed in your diet.

Personally I love the pure earthy taste of greens. The slightly bitter flavor is a perfect companion to a piece of cornbread or skillet bread. Greens pair well as a side dish served along fried fish, grilled fish, meat loaf or barbecue of any type. Remember, raw greens are a great addition to any salad or smoothie.

If you need a menu suggestion to go with the Salubrious Turnip Greens and Roots, check out these posts from the archives.

Menu suggestions to serve with Green

Drowning Pork Roast in Yesterdays Wine
Mashed Potatoes Or Rice dish
Sweet Baby Limas

Dessert Pie Choices
Pecan Pie
Chess Pie
Chocolate Pie

Salubrious Turnip Greens and Roots is a good recipe to make ahead for your dinner party. It reheats or freezes well without any loss of obvious quality in the recipe. Recipe will make a great addition to any BBQ, Labor Day or holiday event. Please cook recipe and let me know what you think.

Lagniappe: Farmers markets will often sell pre-washed local greens in the refrigerator section. Using pre-washed greens will reduce your time in the kitchen. For anyone that has purchased turnip or collard greens from a farmer or off the back truck by the side of the road will completely understand what I mean. My earlier recipe for Southern Turnip Greens will provide extra details if you need instructions for taking greens from farm to table.

Alexa shout out to Billy Currington for Good Directions and Turnip Greens.

Love from Mimi’s Kitchen

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Soul Food and Southern Turnip Greens

Southern turnip greens have always been on the dinner table throughout my life.  I don’t recall the first time that I ate greens. I do recall the first time that I had greens that tasted of magic. My Dad invited an elderly friend, Sister Miles to our house to cook her special greens.  He really wanted the recipe. Sister Miles really wanted to keep it.

Our family devoured the pot of turnip greens. I wish I had been smart enough to stand in the kitchen and watch her create the mouth-watering greens loaded with spices and some type of pork fat. Memories of those greens left an impression on my young mind.

Randomly Dad would drive Sister Miles to the market and we would wait for the magic in our kitchen. Dad would harass her for the recipe and she always would politely reply “No baby, just come pick me up and I will cook the greens”. I enjoyed her in our kitchen with her easy laugh and I loved her greens. Secretly, I was in awe of someone telling my Dad, “No”.

Fast and Easy Southern Turnip Greens

Home cooks and chefs look for ways to adapt recipes to their kitchen, life style, time restraints, budgets,customers,  health and flavor palate. My Granny Theda Faye introduced me to my next type of Greens. Granny’s focus was saving time and money. After my divorce Granny would come and visit with us. As a single Mom, saving time and money is important always.

On one of her visits I returned from work to find Granny in the kitchen with a great home cooked meal. One of the items served was southern turnip roots in greens. Of course, they were delicious. I asked Granny for the recipe. She giggled as she proudly went to my trash can and pulled out a large can of “Gloria’s turnip greens”.

I was in denial. The greens tasted fresh and delicious. The shortcut was using canned greens but only this brand. If you have ever cleaned fresh greens you realize the time savings. Undoubtedly, she had tried several and found them lacking in taste. Granny’s secret was to buy lots of fresh turnip roots and add them to the pot of canned greens. The fresh brought new life to the canned greens along with garlic. Nice trick Granny.

“Jes Greens” or Southern Turnip Greens

My turnip greens have evolved over the years adding in different spices, jalapeño peppers  or proteins. When I married Grill Man he raved about his Momma’s greens. I thought that I cooked good greens until I had her flavor combination. The first time that I had Wathon’s turnip greens, I was amazed that they did not have anything added other than salt and pepper. No jalapeño peppers or meat added or needed. It was “Jes greens”.

Turnip greens pulled fresh from the earth, cleaned thoroughly and properly prepared are a special offering. Under Wathon’s instructions, I have learned to cook greens so that it is all about the fresh sweet, savory and bitter combination that the greens and turnip roots offer. Enjoy the flavor of Southern turnips greens, they need very little else. Thanks, Mom.

I have enjoyed the offerings from many talented cooks that whip up a simple vegetable from the garden into a mouth-watering dish. Farm to table is hard combination to beat. Add a slice of cornbread or skillet bread to my plate and I am happy. It is possible that turnip roots in greens is an acquired taste. I love them.

Turnip greens are an healthy addition to any diet. Food should give us nutrition in addition to enjoyment and fuel for our bodies. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and low in calories. Buy a bunch and serve a dish that says “I must love you!” It is so worth the extra work!

Alexa Shout Out to the band from Denmark,  Turnip Greens for Creole Man.

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