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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... One of Oregon's two health insurance co-ops says it will shut down ... Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... One of Oregon's two health insurance co-ops says it will shut down ... Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Comment By Page H. Onorato More Content Now MailTribune.com By Page H. Onorato More Content Now Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 9:15 AM By Page H. Onorato More Content Now Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 9:15 AM » Social News In spite of popular belief, the words, “First, do no harm” do not appear in the Hippocratic Oath, that statement of ethical standards by which most physicians swear to abide. It does mention things like not giving deadly medicine, not cutting people laboring under the stone and not committing acts of mischief and corruption. Nevertheless, I’m kind of glad to know that my doctor is committed to doing no harm. Perhaps those of us committed to preparing meals for our loved ones, friends and acquaintances should swear to some kind of an oath that involves doing no harm in the kitchen. Here’s a suggestion, sort of a 10 commandments for the Southern cook. 1. Thou shalt not overcook thy green beans (read broccoli, asparagus, squash, etc.). The days of vegetables cooked half a day in fat back are long gone, and once you try them steamed tender-crisp, you’ll be a believer. Maybe, just for old time’s sake, you can indulge in a pot of long-cooked beans once in a while, but please, don’t turn your broccoli into mush. 2. Thou shalt not burn thy fried chicken. This sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to do. Turn your back on the frying pan for only a moment, and it’s a done deed. One dedicated to the preparation of the perfect bird should be at the ready, cooking fork in hand and standing in front of said skillet, alert to turn each body part just when crisp and golden brown is achieved. 3. Thou shalt not abide lumps in thy gravy. “But how?” the novice cook bewails. OK, aside from going berserk and using a packet of gravy mix, one must dedicate oneself to the stir, stir, stir school of gravy making. Add the flour to the drippings and get that arm going before adding the liquid. A blender can help, too. 4. Thou shalt not serve grits made from a wee packet. These are not grits; they are the devil’s abomination designed to torment one’s taste buds. A bag of the real thing, preferably white and stone ground, should be the only kind allowed past your doorstep. 5. Thou shalt not drown thy salads in dressing. Greens deserve to be crisp, not limp and slimy. And while you’re at it, be aware that prewashed and bagged lettuces are never as fresh and crunchy as the ones you prep right before serving. 6. Thou shalt not put sugar in thy corn bread. The same devil who designed packet grits came up with this notion, as any true son and daughter of the Southland knows. Or maybe it was a Yankee. 7. Thou shalt not serve mashed potatoes as a side dish with pizza. Pizza stands alone, or maybe with a salad and a beer. Mashed potatoes go with ham, roast beef, fried chicken, pork chops and gravy. Don’t worry about lumps in your spuds; as my Uncle Joe once observed, “A few lumps let me know they weren’t made from that powder mess.” 8. Thou shalt not deep fat fry thy dill pickles, Snickers bars or Hostess Twinkies. Believe me, you’ll make a big mess. Plus they won’t turn out right, and you’ll have to deep six all your hard work. Just stick to frying your catfish, hush puppies and chicken. 9. Thou shalt not make thy banana pudding with instant Jell-O pudding mix. After all, you don’t want your poor granny to turn over in her grave, or even worse, to come back and haunt you. 10. Thou shalt not serve that fake-y yellow stuff from a box and call it macaroni and cheese nor dump a can of cream of mushroom soup in your casserole and call it “Chicken Divine.” Be truthful to your cooking craft. There you go, words to live by if you want to “Do no harm” in the kitchen. Page H. Onorato, a correspondent for The Lexington (N.C.) Dispatch, is a retired teacher. By Page H. Onorato More Content Now MailTribune.com By Page H. Onorato More Content Now Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 9:15 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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