Episode 3 - Slap Ya Mama Ratatouille
For September we’re serving up the first edition of Back to the Garden to include a guest star! I had the honor of collaborating with Pine Knot Farm, a Black-owned farm in Hurdle Mills, NC. I spent an afternoon with Linda Leach, The Chick In Charge, who took me through the history of the farm and taught me things I didn’t know about veggies and cooking in general. I learned a lot! Along with the end of September comes the end of summer, so Linda and I co- authored a recipe to give my favorite season a proper send off, using tons of Pine Knot produce.
Slap Ya Mama Ratatouille is a Soul Food twist on a French classic. Ratatouille originated in the 18th century in Provence (Southern France) and it’s one of my favorite things to make. It was invented by French peasants who needed a way to use all the vegetables that had ripened at the same time, and didn’t want to waste them. This dish will give your summer garden the moment in the sun it deserves. I’ve been cooking a version of this for years, but working with Linda on this recipe definitely spiced things up. We include fried Okra on top, which is oh so tasty and honestly worth preparing just on its own! In the context of Ratatouille I think of the Okra as “Soul Food Croutons.” With breadcrumbs and Slap Ya Mama seasoning, these Fried Okra bits add a unique, spicy and vitamin packed crunch to one of my favorite dishes. Join us as we delight in a gorgeous rainbow of vegetables, infused with fresh herbs.
If you live in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, consider checking out Pine Knot Farm for beautiful produce plus fantastic value-added items, which you’ll see in this episode. I had an absolute blast collaborating with Linda and the team at Pine Knot Farm and I am grateful to them for sharing their time and knowledge. To my North Carolina folks, go and support this award-winning Black-owned business. And to all, happy fusion cooking!
- Liz
Click the link here to learn more about Pine Knot Farms
#SupportBlackBusiness #EatLocal #BuyLocal
Click recipe below to download your printable PDF
