Country Turnip Greens

“To Kill a Mockingbird” firm is based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning book of 1961. The firm stars Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch an Attorney in Alabama 1932 who defends an African American man who is on trial for raping a white woman. The story is told through the eyes of a six-year-old feisty young girl named Scout (Mary Badham).  Atticus’s children watch as their principled father takes a stand against bigotry, ignorance, and hatred.

My Country Turnip Greens is a deliciously simple recipe with few ingredients - no muss, no fuss.  Our featured firm to “Kill a Mockingbird” was set in 1932, a seemingly simple time in America. But as we all know still waters run deep and beneath the surface are many complex layers. Try Country Turnip Greens on your country or city table, it’s that “simple.”

2 ½ lbs fresh Turnip Greens (washed, end stems removed, chopped)

1 lb Smoked Turkey or Pork Necks

8 small red potatoes (washed and sliced in half)

1 cup chicken stock (low sodium)

5 cups water

2 teaspoons sugar

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

Dashes from black pepper

Optional – Slices of Jalapeño Peppers for finished dish

Place Smoked Turkey or Pork Necks in large soup/stock pot.  Add water and chicken stock, cover. Turn heat up high, after pot boils, reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.  Add potatoes. Cook for 10 minutes. Add Turnip Greens, sugar, soy sauce and black pepper.  Cook for 20 to 25 minutes (until Greens are tender).

Optional – serve with Jalapeño Peppers

Serves 6

(1962)

Lamb Shoulder Chops with Rosemary and Lemon

Reel Good Recipes salutes "Kick Ass Women in Film" with our quick, easy, affordable, and flavorful Lamb Shoulder Chops with Rosemary and Lemon.  

Enjoy our video clip of these phenomenal women in film.

2-  6-8oz Lamb Shoulder Blade Chops
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea or coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
2 teaspoon fresh Rosemary, chopped
Juice from 1/3 of lemon
Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce

Preheat oven broiler.

Place lamb chops on a plate. Add olive oil, salt, lemon pepper, Rosemary and lemon juice to a bowl. Mix well. Rub mixture on both sides of meat.

Place on oven pan and under oven broiler. After 10 minutes turn lamb chops over. Let broil an additional 10 minutes. Turn off broiler and turn oven to 425 degrees. Let bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven.

Before serving add dashes of Worcestershire Sauce to lamb chops.

Serves 2

Kick Ass Women in Film

Soulful Surf and Turf

Surf and Turf is a main course in American cuisine which combines seafood and meat. Reel Good Recipes brings together two of its old favorites; Shrimply Fabulous and Ox Tails Stew.  Our Soulful Surf and Turf combo deserves a revisit.

*Click on Forest Gump and Big Mama's House in our Recipe and Movie Listings.

"Thelma and Louise" was released in 1991 and starred the deliciously talented Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. Two friends with seemly opposite personalities plan a weekend getaway that changes their lives, forever. Thelma and Louise's friendship worked, because each had what the other one needed. Our exciting Soulful Surf and Turf is in excellent company! 

(1991)

Roasted Turkey with Rosemary Sauce

The film "300" tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Persians are ruled by King Xerxes who has taken over some of the Hellenic cities, and now threaten Sparta and Athens. King Leonidas is played by Gerald Butler who will have to sacrifice himself for Sparta or watch his beloved city burn. Leonidas forms an army of 300 Spartan warriors to block the narrow passage of Thermopylae where Xerxes intends to reach Hellas. The story depicts the epic last stand of the finest Spartan soldiers who are aware of their fate, but because of  honor and pride, see the battle as their duty. 

Our recipe for Roasted Turkey with Fresh Rosemary is just the right meal to eat before your epic battles.  It's full of protein, deliciously filling, not too heavy, and has just the right about of spices to motivate you to kick ass! All my medieval friends just love this turkey recipe, and so will you!


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2 -1/2 lbs turkey parts (thighs legs, wings or breast) I used thighs
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
3/4 teaspoon Essence of Emeril's Seasoning
1 Tablespoon soft butter
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup water mixed with 2 teaspoons flour

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Rub butter all over turkey. Add seasoned salt, lemon pepper, and Essence of Emeril's Seasoning to all sides of turkey. Place in oven dish. Add Rosemary on top. Cover and bake for 2 hours.

Remove dish from oven. Carefully drain all the liquid and fat. Add Worcestershire Sauce, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce to turkey. Return to oven, uncovered and bake an additional 20 minutes.

Remove turkey from dish. Add drippings to a sauce pan, and the Rosemary. Turn heat up to high and add water and flour mixture. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 3 minutes. Serve over turkey.

Optional, mince rosemary leaves before serving.

Serves 4 to 6

(2006)

Turkey Thighs Stuffed with Port Wine Cheese

2 turkey thighs - rinsed and excess fat removed (retain outer skin)
8 oz Port Wine Spreadable Cheese (I used Kaukauna)
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon sage seasoning
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
dashes of salt and black pepper
dashes of parsley flakes
1 Bay Leaf


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Gently move your hand between the turkey skin and meat to loosen skin, but don't remove it.  Spread 1/2 of port wine cheese under each turkey thigh.

Using a pastry brush, add 1 tablespoon of butter to each turkey thigh.  Add sage, poultry seasoning, parsley flakes and dashes of salt and black pepper to both sides.  Place in a baking dish and add the bay leaf to the dish.

Bake covered for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remove cover and continue baking an additional 15 minutes.

Serves 4 to 5.

(1983)

"A Christmas Story" is one of my all-time favorite holiday films. It is so popular, that every year a cable station runs it 24 hours straight. Our star is poor little Ralphie (played by Peter Billingsley), a kid growing up in the mid-west in the 1940's. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun, but everyone tells him "you'll shoot your eye out!" Lots of great characters, including his wacky parents played by Darrin McGavin and Melinda Dillion. This film will put a smile on your face, because it was a time of sweet innocents.

In the movie's final scenes, the family's Christmas turkey is ruined by a pack of hungry dogs. Turkey is the Dad's favorite meal, so we were inspired to bring you our recipe for an easy to prepare turkey dish that can be ready in a couple of hours and not an all-day event.  Our recipe for Turkey Thighs Stuffed with Port Wine Cheese is a new twist on an old holiday favorite. Great flavors and pure joy in every bite.

Enjoy the clip of "A Christmas Story."