Bernard's Southern Cooked Greens

Ingredients

1 smoked ham hock
6 ounce thick slab bacon, chopped (about 5 slices)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 12-ounce bottle beer
Tabasco
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper
16 cups loosely-packed washed greens (such as kale, collard, mustard and beet)

Instructions

In a large heavy pot sweat ham hock and bacon in oil over medium-low heat until bacon begins to render some fat. Add onions and garlic and saute until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in beer and season with Tabasco, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil and stir in greens, a large handful at a time. When all greens are added, reduce heat to simmering, cover and cook until greens are very tender, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Yield: 4 servings