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Fresh Fixins with Georgia-Based Chef, Cissy Bates

Posted on March 20, 2018 12:00 AM

With help from two of our Certified Farm Markets, Thompson Farms and B&G Honey Farm, Chef Cissy Bates shares the perfect recipes for a wipe-your-brow, sipping' on sweet-tea, spring afternoon. Raised in Macon, Georgia, Bates has loved cooking and baking for as long as she can remember. Inspired by a cookbook given by her aunt, Bates began her first baking business, Practically Perfect Pretzels, when she was twelve years old. After graduating from Mercer University with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, Bates continued to pursue her love of and expertise in the kitchen at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Sweet Southern Green Beans

Ingredients

2 lb. green beans

½ small, sweet onion, finely diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1½ oz. bacon, finely chopped

salt, to taste

3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

6 tbsp. B&G Honey Farm Wildflower Honey

1½ qt. water or unsalted chicken stock

pepper, to taste

Directions

Wash beans. Trim stem end of beans to clean. Finely dice ½ of a small onion (approximately 6 tablespoons). Mince garlic. Finely chop bacon. Sweat onion with bacon in a large pot. Add green beans and cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add vinegar and cook for 5 minutes. Add honey and water or unsalted chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cook uncovered on medium heat for 30 minutes. Strain and serve.

Honey BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

½ of a small, sweet onion, finely diced

¾ cup chopped fresh parsley

3 tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup lemon juice

16 oz. ketchup

4 tbsp. chili powder

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. dry mustard

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

6 tbsp. B&G Honey Farm Wildflower Honey

2 tbsp. sugar

Directions 

Finely dice 1/2 of a small onion (approximately 6 tablespoons). Chop ¾ cup of parsley. Heat butter on medium heat in saucepan. Add onion and sauté. Add Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Whisk in parsley, ketchup, chili powder, cider vinegar, dry mustard, balsamic vinegar, honey and sugar. Cover and simmer on low heat for 40 minutes. Whisk often.

Smoked Pork Butt

Ingredients 

6–8 lb. Thompson Farms smoked pork butt

1 cup water or unsalted chicken stock

Directions

Preheat oven to 300°F. Place butt on roasting rack in a roasting dish. Pour water or unsalted chicken stock into roasting dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

TIP: If making sandwiches, pull cold pork butt. Toss with BBQ sauce and 1 cup water or chicken stock. Heat in a large pot over medium-low heat for one hour, stirring often. Serve with pickles or slaw.