Peking Best

I need some ideas/recipes on cooking soul food.  Being brought up on soul food, it is hard to break away.  But I need to lose 30 pounds.  How can I cook my regular food (mustard greens, corn bread, fried chicken, fried catfish, pinto beans, bar-b-q, hamburgers, etc.) without upsetting my family.  I know I need to get away from fried foods, but what other alternative is there?  Also, has anyone read Oprah's new book?  If so, what do you think?  

I need some ideas/recipes on cooking soul food.  Being brought up on soul food, it is hard to break away.  But I need to lose 30 pounds.  How can I cook my regular food (mustard greens, corn bread, fried chicken, fried catfish, pinto beans, bar-b-q, hamburgers, etc.) without upsetting my family.  I know I need to get away from fried foods, but what other alternative is there?  Also, has anyone read Oprah's new book?  If so, what do you think?

As far as greens are concerned, I use smoked turkey, I may boil a smoke turkey leg, cool and shred the meat and substitute that for neckbones or hamhocks, in my greens, black eyed peas, beans, green beans, etc.  also cut back on the salt!!!! Girl, I am so GLAD you said this!  I cook the same way, but you should see my mother's face when I tell her about it. She's from the old school, but all those high fat foods is not healthy. We should be able to enjoy traditional soul food without having a heartattack. I've made stir fry collard greens with no meat but used a lot seasonings (cayenne, soy sauce, along with chopped onions and jalapenos) and it was really good. Real hot, though. I've even made cornbread (no, not the Jiffy) with whole wheat flour. My mom really doesn't get that one, but it turned out just fine. I took it to a potluck with some other sisters (Along with some blackeyed peas cooked with smoked turkey) and everyone raved about it. I was pretty happy about that. It can be done.                                            Angela Winning and losing, both are confusing

though. I've even made cornbread (no, not the Jiffy) with whole wheat flour. Not to nitpick, but if its made with wheat flour, isn't it then not cornbread? Thought is the labour of the intellect, reverie is its pleasure -V.Hugo Rose BamBam Cooper                                   /~ Sgt. At Arms/Web Moderator,                           /',' Ebony Queens Motorcycle Club                         /','`' DoD #EQUEEN         email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    /',',','/`, http://cstore-zserver.cl.msu.edu/eqmc/eqmc.htm      `~-._'c    / http://cstore-zserver.cl.msu.edu/rose/cooper.htm         `   (  dski http://cstore-zserver.cl.msu.edu/rose/rott.htm            /~~~~

*Stir fry greens*? (Didn't you say you were coming to the Cali mini-reunion?)   Yup, gonna make it high on my priority list, even though my play is going to be rehearsal that month. Looking forward to it, actually. Got a little conjurin' to do.   I'm talking about greens, of course, ya' know. (hehehehehe