Latrell’s Tasty Green Beans

Live your best life! That is my motto. My name is Menia L. Chester, I am a chef and owner of Desserts by Latrell and Southern Jazz and Sweets. My goal is to teach you about food, finance, anything about the home, gardening, and healthy living.

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, I am reminded of two of many amazing women that have contributed to music and agriculture.

Willie Mae “Big Mama”Thorton was a powerful blues singer. In 1952, she recorded the song Hound Dog, making her the first person to record the song. Although someone else recorded the song four years later, this song was written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller specifically for her. She delivered a tune that is memorable and moves the soul!

In the agricultural world, many people do not know of Fannie Lou Hamer who founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative. In 1969, Hamer purchased land in the Mississippi Delta that helped to empower underserved African American farmers.

The farmers had been a part of a sharecropping system that was unfair and left the farmers disadvantaged in many ways. During this time, African American farmers owned over 15 million acres of land compared to the one million acres today. As a professional in agriculture, the is a subject that is close to my heart. Farmland is important and knowing what to do with the food that comes from the land is equally important.

If you do not own acres of land, do not fret! You can grow food on your patio or in your backyard. In Georgia, we typically plant our spring and early summer vegetables during the second week of April. This is to ensure that we are past the frost season. During this time, you can plant your frost tender plants such as beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, and okra. Be sure to plant a second row of your favorite plants 2-3 weeks later so that you will have veggies all summer long! Here is my simple but delicious recipe for green beans.

Latrell’s Tasty Green Beans

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds cleaned fresh green beans, ends trimmed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon of rendered bacon fat

Red pepper flakes to taste

½ cup finely chopped onion

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup of water

DIRECTIONS

Heat water to boiling in a skillet, add green beans, oil, bacon fat, onions, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until tender. Serve with tomatoes, pick- led okra, and cornbread or as a side dish with your favorite meal. Enjoy!

If you have questions, would like to see other recipes, or would like to learn about events by Latrell, please visit my website and send an email via the contact form.

Website: www.southernjazzandsweets.com first person to record the song. Although someone else recorded the song four years later, this song was written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller specifically for her. She delivered a tune that is memorable and moves the soul!