Green Beans Southern Style

This recipe came from a cook who worked at the Blue Willow Inn south of Atlanta.

4 ounces of fatback

4 ounces of cooked ham or hamhock

2 tablespoons of bacon grease

¼ teaspoon of brown sugar

1 2/3 cup of water

1 28-ounce can of green beans

Salt and pepper.

1. Bacon grease was kept for seasoning and cooking when my parents and grandparents were cooking. Even after Ginny and I were married, we always cooked bacon in a pan instead of the microwave and kept the drippings in a jar next to the stove. You will need to collect a small amount for this recipe – probably one breakfast will suffice to collect the desired amount.
2. Combine the fatback, ham, bacon grease, brown surgar and water into a pot and bring to a boil.
3. Drain the juice from the can of green beans. Discard that juice.
4. Add the beans to the pot.
5. Return the pot to a slow boil for 20 to 25 minutes.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.