A work of fiction, but...

[RWNJ]

This is probably pretty close to how it went down.

Ever hear of a little something called Polk salad? It contains a leafy green vegetable that is poisonous. However, if you boil it three times, discarding and adding fresh water in between, it's safe to eat. Here's my work of fiction...

Hey Rufus. Let's add some of this to your salad.

Sure thing, says Rufus.

Rufus eats his salad, and keels over dead.

Hmm...Maybe if we boil it, it will be safe.

Hey, Jim Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Jim Bob died.

Let's boil it again.

All right, Billy Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Billy Bob's dead.

Let's boil it again. Third time is the charm.

OK, Bernie. Try it now....Bernie? Guess he's not hungry.

 

[Hossfly]

This is probably pretty close to how it went down.

Ever hear of a little something called Polk salad? It contains a leafy green vegetable that is poisonous. However, if you boil it three times, discarding and adding fresh water in between, it's safe to eat. Here's my work of fiction...

Hey Rufus. Let's add some of this to your salad.

Sure thing, says Rufus.

Rufus eats his salad, and keels over dead.

Hmm...Maybe if we boil it, it will be safe.

Hey, Jim Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Jim Bob died.

Let's boil it again.

All right, Billy Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Billy Bob's dead.

Let's boil it again. Third time is the charm.

OK, Bernie. Try it now....Bernie? Guess he's not hungry.

POKE SALAD
1 to 2 lbs. Poke Salad
6 to 8 slices bacon
1 lg. onion
2 eggs


Pick and wash poke salad, bring to a rapid boil for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Bring to a rapid boil, starting with cold water, for a second boil for 20 minutes. Again drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Now for the third time, starting over cold tepid water bring to a rapid boil for 20 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain completely.
Meantime fry bacon and save drippings; set aside. Clean and cut onion in quarters. Take drained poke salad. Cook in fry pan that you fried your bacon. Add 1/4 cup of drippings and shortening from bacon. Add onion, 1/4 cup of water, salt to taste. Let steam fry until onions are sauteed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and garnish with hard boiled egg and bacon.



Frequently Asked Question:
What is pokeweed?

Pokeweed is a strongly smelling herbaceous perennial growing from four to eight feet in height. The root and berries are poisonous, but the first shoots that grow in the spring are considered to be a great delicacy. They are green to reddish purple in color and may be prepared like asparagus.

When preparing poke weed for consumption the first time, allow an experienced person to teach you what parts are safe to use and how to prepare it. If the wrong parts are eaten and pokeweed is not prepared properly, it can be Poisonous to consume! It is important to use only the thick, succulent new growth (3 to 4 inches at the growing tips). The rest of the plant contains so much Vitamin A that it may be poisonous unless it is boiled in water 3 times (the water must be discarded 3 times to leech out the excess Vitamin A.

 

[RWNJ]

This is probably pretty close to how it went down.

Ever hear of a little something called Polk salad? It contains a leafy green vegetable that is poisonous. However, if you boil it three times, discarding and adding fresh water in between, it's safe to eat. Here's my work of fiction...

Hey Rufus. Let's add some of this to your salad.

Sure thing, says Rufus.

Rufus eats his salad, and keels over dead.

Hmm...Maybe if we boil it, it will be safe.

Hey, Jim Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Jim Bob died.

Let's boil it again.

All right, Billy Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Billy Bob's dead.

Let's boil it again. Third time is the charm.

OK, Bernie. Try it now....Bernie? Guess he's not hungry.

POKE SALAD
1 to 2 lbs. Poke Salad
6 to 8 slices bacon
1 lg. onion
2 eggs


Pick and wash poke salad, bring to a rapid boil for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Bring to a rapid boil, starting with cold water, for a second boil for 20 minutes. Again drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Now for the third time, starting over cold tepid water bring to a rapid boil for 20 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain completely.
Meantime fry bacon and save drippings; set aside. Clean and cut onion in quarters. Take drained poke salad. Cook in fry pan that you fried your bacon. Add 1/4 cup of drippings and shortening from bacon. Add onion, 1/4 cup of water, salt to taste. Let steam fry until onions are sauteed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and garnish with hard boiled egg and bacon.



Frequently Asked Question:
What is pokeweed?

Pokeweed is a strongly smelling herbaceous perennial growing from four to eight feet in height. The root and berries are poisonous, but the first shoots that grow in the spring are considered to be a great delicacy. They are green to reddish purple in color and may be prepared like asparagus.

When preparing poke weed for consumption the first time, allow an experienced person to teach you what parts are safe to use and how to prepare it. If the wrong parts are eaten and pokeweed is not prepared properly, it can be Poisonous to consume! It is important to use only the thick, succulent new growth (3 to 4 inches at the growing tips). The rest of the plant contains so much Vitamin A that it may be poisonous unless it is boiled in water 3 times (the water must be discarded 3 times to leech out the excess Vitamin A.

Thanks, but I think I'll just stick with good old lettuce.

 

[Granny]

This is probably pretty close to how it went down.

Ever hear of a little something called Polk salad? It contains a leafy green vegetable that is poisonous. However, if you boil it three times, discarding and adding fresh water in between, it's safe to eat. Here's my work of fiction...

Hey Rufus. Let's add some of this to your salad.

Sure thing, says Rufus.

Rufus eats his salad, and keels over dead.

Hmm...Maybe if we boil it, it will be safe.

Hey, Jim Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Jim Bob died.

Let's boil it again.

All right, Billy Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Billy Bob's dead.

Let's boil it again. Third time is the charm.

OK, Bernie. Try it now....Bernie? Guess he's not hungry.

POKE SALAD
1 to 2 lbs. Poke Salad
6 to 8 slices bacon
1 lg. onion
2 eggs


Pick and wash poke salad, bring to a rapid boil for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Bring to a rapid boil, starting with cold water, for a second boil for 20 minutes. Again drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Now for the third time, starting over cold tepid water bring to a rapid boil for 20 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain completely.
Meantime fry bacon and save drippings; set aside. Clean and cut onion in quarters. Take drained poke salad. Cook in fry pan that you fried your bacon. Add 1/4 cup of drippings and shortening from bacon. Add onion, 1/4 cup of water, salt to taste. Let steam fry until onions are sauteed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and garnish with hard boiled egg and bacon.



Frequently Asked Question:
What is pokeweed?

Pokeweed is a strongly smelling herbaceous perennial growing from four to eight feet in height. The root and berries are poisonous, but the first shoots that grow in the spring are considered to be a great delicacy. They are green to reddish purple in color and may be prepared like asparagus.

When preparing poke weed for consumption the first time, allow an experienced person to teach you what parts are safe to use and how to prepare it. If the wrong parts are eaten and pokeweed is not prepared properly, it can be Poisonous to consume! It is important to use only the thick, succulent new growth (3 to 4 inches at the growing tips). The rest of the plant contains so much Vitamin A that it may be poisonous unless it is boiled in water 3 times (the water must be discarded 3 times to leech out the excess Vitamin A.

Thank you, Hossfly ... I've lived most of my life in the south and never heard of "Polk Salad." Glad you explained poke salad...now I don't have to!!

 

[Hossfly]

This is probably pretty close to how it went down.

Ever hear of a little something called Polk salad? It contains a leafy green vegetable that is poisonous. However, if you boil it three times, discarding and adding fresh water in between, it's safe to eat. Here's my work of fiction...

Hey Rufus. Let's add some of this to your salad.

Sure thing, says Rufus.

Rufus eats his salad, and keels over dead.

Hmm...Maybe if we boil it, it will be safe.

Hey, Jim Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Jim Bob died.

Let's boil it again.

All right, Billy Bob. Try it now.

Dang it! Billy Bob's dead.

Let's boil it again. Third time is the charm.

OK, Bernie. Try it now....Bernie? Guess he's not hungry.

POKE SALAD
1 to 2 lbs. Poke Salad
6 to 8 slices bacon
1 lg. onion
2 eggs


Pick and wash poke salad, bring to a rapid boil for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Bring to a rapid boil, starting with cold water, for a second boil for 20 minutes. Again drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Now for the third time, starting over cold tepid water bring to a rapid boil for 20 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain completely.
Meantime fry bacon and save drippings; set aside. Clean and cut onion in quarters. Take drained poke salad. Cook in fry pan that you fried your bacon. Add 1/4 cup of drippings and shortening from bacon. Add onion, 1/4 cup of water, salt to taste. Let steam fry until onions are sauteed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and garnish with hard boiled egg and bacon.



Frequently Asked Question:
What is pokeweed?

Pokeweed is a strongly smelling herbaceous perennial growing from four to eight feet in height. The root and berries are poisonous, but the first shoots that grow in the spring are considered to be a great delicacy. They are green to reddish purple in color and may be prepared like asparagus.

When preparing poke weed for consumption the first time, allow an experienced person to teach you what parts are safe to use and how to prepare it. If the wrong parts are eaten and pokeweed is not prepared properly, it can be Poisonous to consume! It is important to use only the thick, succulent new growth (3 to 4 inches at the growing tips). The rest of the plant contains so much Vitamin A that it may be poisonous unless it is boiled in water 3 times (the water must be discarded 3 times to leech out the excess Vitamin A.

Thank you, Hossfly ... I've lived most of my life in the south and never heard of "Polk Salad." Glad you explained poke salad...now I don't have to!!

Poke salad, collard greens, mustard greens, black-eyed peas and grits. Meal fit for a king.