Daddy's Southern Favorites

My dad was one of those poor kids who never went to the same school for more than a year or two. He grew up during the war, and because of his dad's job (building aluminum factories), their family was always on the move. Many of his early years though, were spent in the South.

For whatever reasons, he doesn't have a lot of fond memories of the South. I think probably all that moving around makes it hard to really bond with a place. Plus, those were the days of segregation in the South, which he doesn't remember fondly.

My brother and I certainly didn't grow up hearing amazing stories about the South from him. And yet! - one thing I distinctly remember is hearing him ask for his Southern favorites: grits, black-eyed peas, collard greens, lemon merengue pie... Isn't it amazing? The foods from our childhood really do have a special place in our hearts.

So, when I started to think of foods that remind me of my sweet dad, I definitely knew I would have to make a nice Southern meal. Unfortunately for my dad, my mom isn't really so crazy about black-eyed peas or collards or grits, and she isn't in the habit of making weekly lemon merengue pies. But, I had a feeling that her prejudice against black-eyed peas could be conquered... and recently I had been thinking that I should make her a few super yum dishes with BEPs in them, just to show her the error of her ways. Mostly, when I think of BEPs, I think of Southern food and Indian food... which is a pretty good place to start!
 

Thinking about my dad and his Southern tastes, I decided to make a dinner of Hottie Black Eyed Peas with Collards (from Appetite for Reduction), and serve them with Creamy Polenta* (from Let Them Eat Vegan). Then, at the last minute, I realized that instead of just dedicating the meal with my dad, I could just invite my mom and dad over the share the meal with us!

What a delicious meal we had. You guys, that polenta/grits is so totally delicious! It was a perfect combo with the BEPs and Collards!

My dad has been on my mind and in my heart and in my thoughts so much in the last couple of months, as he had a big surgery this summer, and has been recovering ever since. One side affect of his situation is that he has lost a lot of weight, and hasn't had much appetite. Just in the last couple of weeks, his appetite is really starting to pick up, and this has also helped pick up my spirits. We had such a great evening together, and the meal was a 100% hit. It felt so wonderful to make some foods for my dad that I know he loves, and see him happily eat his whole serving. I love my dad so much!

p.s. Even my mom loved our Southern meal!