Southern Sunday Dinner

Did you ever notice that its hard to cook for just one person?  Or even for two people, if one of those people wears diapers?  Or if one of those "people" is a dog?  Or if one of those two people is sleeping?  No?  Just me?

I've recently begun getting better at cooking, even if its just RG & I.  I've actually been getting better at lots of stuff, as I've been watching less Netflix and CBS.com shows.  Amazing what un-wasted time will do for a person ;)  But I've also been giving myself more freedom, not making such a far-in-the-future menu.  I've been trying to do more of what makes me come alive, and cooking whatever strikes my fancy appeals more to me than cooking something that I decided 6 days ago was what was going to be cooked.

And now I'm boring myself by talking about menus.  

Here's what I want to tell you: Southern Sunday Dinner is a lost art.  And I have reclaimed it.  Now, since I'm a transplant down here, I'm sure I've missed some things, like fat back (ha!  I typed "back fat".  Nope, not missing that!  Ha!)  and collards and confederate flags potatoes.  But it felt southern to me, and when I served it up at the firehouse, I was complimented as "going all 'Paula Deen' on them".  

I think it was a compliment anyhow.

And now I'm thinking about all of the recent (or not-so-recent, my lack of television watching has me behind on current events) uncomplimentary things people say about Miss Deen, and I'm sad for the butter queen.

Anyhow.

I wanted a southern dinner the other sunday, and I came up with this little setup.  And oh my, people, it was delicious.  Lawd.  I took no pictures, obviously, because I was focused on eating and more eating.  Want to know the 2nd best part (the first being the presence of bacon) about the whole thing?  I cooked it at the fire house.  Which means that I didn't have to clean up!  Its the best arrangement I've ever heard of, except for when I had a wife for 6 weeks, which we'll talk about some other time.

Without further ado, the delicious dinner that I recommend for your Sunday afternoon.  Feast your eyes, then go make them & feast your bellies.  Oh, and get ready to eat that mac & cheese for days, and be happy about it.

The Best Chicken Ever (I subbed greek yogurt in for sour cream, but either way!)

SIDE NOTE: This photo below was also one of the ones to choose from on the recipe's website.  Because who doesn't eat their chicken with a side of trumpet??

 Bacon Mac & Cheese

Use that bacon grease.
Don't be scared.
Oh, and save some for the next recipe, too!
Its called "having the same flavor profile" for your dishes,
not "overkill"
Trust me, I'm a professional.

Lemon & Garlic Green Beans

(via)
I didn't serve mine with the lemon slices, because RG ate them.
And because weren't fancy, just hungry.

You're welcome!

<3 M.