Collards and Blackeyed peas

Had a 'girl's weekend' over the MLK holiday. For the uninitiated, that is a weekend where old friends get together at one friend's home ( hotel/resort/or just about anywhere) and talk for hours on end, eat good food - some cooked in and some out at restaurants, drink lots of wine and coffee and sleep late). I have a group of friends who met when we were all working in Atlanta right after college and before husbands, children and grad school. This group gets together multiple times a year - any excuse will do. There are currently 5 of us in the core group, sometimes we bring friends and there are more, sometimes we can't all make it and there are less, but we get together just the same.
This particular weekend we were at my house in the country. I had a little help with the horses, dogs and cats as favorite daughter was out of town. Help is always good. I cooked dinner the first night, in my recently acquired tagine (Moroccan clay cookware) - chicken with olives, lemons and Moroccan spices with couscous; also made creme brulee. I tell you about the menu only because it is so completely different than what is served in most restaurants in and around my little town. We had lunch one day at one of these typical local restaurants. A meat and 2 sides was the special of the day. This is the typical southern fare served in these parts. There were no fewer than 5 meats to choose from and at least 8 side dishes. The sides are loosely referred to as vegetables, but this may well include the likes of rice/gravy, macaroni and cheese, or grits. Hardly the vegetable the food pyramid promotes. But it sure was tasty!
Although we didn't solve any world problems, there is nothing better for the soul than good 'ol southern food and good 'ol friends!