Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' - Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. was an incredible man of his times. He was a leader in the American civil rights movement, Baptist minister, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient & a lover of food. And today we are going to celebrate both the man & his love of food. It's known that Martin Luther King Jr. loved & appreciated his food, of which Southern food was his favorite, and his favorite sweet Southern dish was pecan pie. Celebrate King by slipping into this delicious pecan pie recipe. Enjoy. PECAN PIE INGREDIENTS 3 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup corn syrup 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cups pecans 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell METHOD Go ahead & preheat your oven to 350 F or 175 C. Place pie shell in a 9 inch pie pan. In a medium bowl- gently beat eggs. Stir in sugar and flour, then the syrup, butter and vanilla. Fold in pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes; knife inserted in center of pie should come out clean. OK, we need a little more nutrition that fabulous Southern Pecan Pie recipe can give us, so I thought we would tackle another of Martin Luther King Jr's favorite recipes. This Beans & Greens recipe is full of fiber & vitamins and sure to win over the picky eaters if you cover their eyes! BEANS & GREENS INGREDIENTS 1 pounds kale, chard or mustard greens, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 (15-ounce) can white beans (Great Northern or Cannellini), undrained 6 tomato halves cup chicken broth 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes Salt and black pepper to taste METHOD In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water, add greens and cook until they are almost tender but still bright green, 5 to 8 minutes. Time will depend upon type of green being used. Drain and set aside. (Greens can be cooked one day ahead; refrigerate until continuing with recipe). Heat olive oil in large skillet and sautZ garlic until tender but not browned; stir in beans and cook and stir for 8 minutes, heating beans through. Some beans may break up; this is okay as it helps thicken the dish. Gently stir in reserved greens, tomatoes, broth and seasonings. Cook and stir gently until heated through. If desired, top each serving with a dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. AND FINALLY... As Chris Rock once pointed out, if you are on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, it doesn't matter what city or state, you are in a bad neighborhood! Eat well & laugh often!