What Does A Southern Girl Do?

* With a bit of down time for the first time in a while, and before things get cranked up for the busy year end scramble, I thought I would see what is lurking in my "Draft" status. I have too many that have gone untouched for too long. This is one of my favorite summer recipes. Vegetables straight from the garden, beg to be cooked right away. So fresh and delicious. *

To begin... Okra & Tomatoes

Cookin' now, down low and scrumptious

This makes a Southern summer garden worth it

Peppery, tangy, perfect

Time to dig in

May I have another?

Okra & Tomatoes

1 thick slice of Hickory bacon (sliced into small lardon)

1/4 cup water

Fresh okra (about 3 cups cut into bite sized pieces)
2 or 3 fresh tomatoes, depending on the size (chopped)
1 Cayenne pepper, optional (chopped finely)
1/2 small onion (chopped finely)
Salt & Black Pepper

Add the bacon to a pot and cook until it begins to slightly brown. Add the water and cook just a bit longer to get the full essence of bacon flavor. Toss in the okra, tomatoes, cayenne and onion. Add a bit of salt (more if needed at the end), black pepper and a smidgen of water (as needed throughout) for the cooking process. Stir gently together and place a lid on the pot. Simmer on medium heat and stir a couple of times until the okra is tender. 

Serve hot and preferably as a side dish for a Sunday style Fried Chicken Dinner. So good!