Fresh Collards from the Garden!

I love collard greens. I've cooked them several times but have always used the packaged greens that are already chopped and cleaned. But this morning, I cleaned and cooked my first batch of fresh collard greens. My cousin in Sacramento, CA brought several bags of collard greens and tomatoes from her garden to a recent family gathering in Vallejo. I smiled when I was asked if I wanted some because I knew they were collards, and the answer was "yes." Someone suggested washing them with baking soda and salt, while another person said "I use dish soap." I had all three items, but decided to use dish soap. I washed and rinsed the greens thoroughly three times, thinking about my mother who I watched clean greens on many occasions. I boiled a ham hock for a little over an hour, then added some seasonings: salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and onions. Then, I added the greens and let them simmer for about an hour. They were delicious! I enjoyed the collard greens with some homemade macaroni & cheese and leftover meat loaf from a pot luck. This dish called for a glass of wine, so I poured a glass of Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot. It's sweet and flavorful and a nice alternative to Merlot, Shiraz, or Cabernet Sauvignon. What a great meal!