Anne,

I'm from Alabama, but my family was always into the pork fat thing until this generation.  Being single, I alway keep some turkey bacon in my freezer to use for flavoring veggies.  (I never even thought about smoked turkey necks.)  You get the smokey flavor without the fat.  Maybe smoked turkey necks is a Southern African American thing.

A funny thing about my Dad's family.  When we were kids, they NEVER had turkey.  It was always chicken, since chickens were always on hand.  Even at Thanksgiving, it was always a hen and dressing, never a turkey.  Mom, having grown up in VA and Baltimore, always got real tickled over it.  It wasn't until I was grown that my grandmother finally served a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Christmas was always a country ham, and the sweet potato casserole with the marshmallows on top!  And, as with every meal, crowder peas, fried okra and cornbread.  Yum!

Jean
>
> From: Anne Pemberton <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2007/01/11 Thu PM 08:50:37 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Martha's Greens
>
> Before those without culinary inclinations prevail, let me share a tale of
> greens.
>
> Several years ago my sister, Patty, who lives outside Detroit, was called to
> serve on the jury in Detroit. A fellow juror introduced herself as Martha
> Reeves. When the judge gasped, she said, "Yes, Martha Reeves of Martha and
> the Vandellas". Patty was delighted. After the first session, they talked as
> they waited for their rides home. Martha's never came, and Patty & Mario
> drove her home. Martha and Patty chatted the whole way there, and became
> fast friends. Some months later, after many meetings for lunch and other
> events, Patty spent the day at Martha's apartment. It was the first time she
> had grits (not instant) for breakfast, but what fascinated was the Greens
> with lunch. I asked for the recipe, and was astonished that Martha used
> smoked turkey necks instead of a pork product. She also added an array of
> herbs. Patty didn't know which greens they were, even tho Martha tried to
> educate her in the variety of Greens to be chosen.
>
> Martha came from Alabama. Her family settled in Detroit when she was a girl.
> She, of course, went to Motown and became a hit (it's all in her
> autobiography). Patty and Martha are still good friends. Martha has been to
> Patty's granddaughter birthday parties (sang Christmas Carols with Libby in
> the summer), and sang for the guests at Aimee's wedding. Patty has been
> there with Martha at many interesting meetings and was part of her campaign
> for City Council, and was in the newspaper picture of Martha's staff - the
> only white person there.
>
> But those greens, with smoked turkey necks, still fascinates me. Is that an
> Alabama thing? Or What?
>
> Anne

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