Cooking Perfect Collard Greens

Introduction

• Collard greens often overshadowed by other dishes like mac and cheese.
• Properly cooked collard greens can be a standout dish, especially during the holiday season.

Key Steps for Perfect Collard Greens

Selecting and Preparing Collard Greens

• Quality selection: Choose bright, vibrant green collard greens; avoid yellow or wilted ones.
• Cleaning: Remove dirt, grit, and stems; chop into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.

Preparing the Braising Liquid

• Base ingredients: Use smoked turkey meat (turkey leg & turkey neck) for flavor.
• Additional ingredients: Two onions and one head of garlic.
• Cooking vessel: Use a large pot (6.5 liters) depending on the serving size.

Cooking Process

• Initial steps: Fill the pot with water, bring to a boil, and let simmer until meat is tender.
• Seasoning start: Use chicken bouillon powder and AP seasoning to begin flavoring.
• Meat preparation: Shred the tenderized meat after bones are removed.

Collard Green Cooking

• Tenderizing: Simmer collard greens in the flavorful liquid until tender.
• Final seasoning: Add roasted garlic, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of sugar, red pepper flakes, and more AP seasoning.
• Adjust the vinegar and sugar according to taste.

Finishing Touches

• Plating: Ensure a good ratio of greens to turkey meat.
• Final taste test: Greens should be tender, well-seasoned, and balanced in flavor.

Promotion

• Cookbook: "Meet Me in the Kitchen" featuring over 100 recipes.
• Purchase details: Available at MrMakeItHappen.shop, includes signed copies for a limited time.

Conclusion

• Collard greens, often underrated, can be a highlight of the holiday season when made fresh and with attention to detail.
• Encouragement to try the recipe and purchase the cookbook for more culinary adventures.