At long last, the collard greens are done ... and South Carolina's official vegetable

Image by TheDigitel

(With handy link to guide on proper collard preparation and cooking.)

It took a surprising amount of doing, but the leafy, bitter, and oft-tasty collard green is now all but the official state vegetable of South Carolina.

Believe it or not, the measure was contested in the House, passing just 86-14; however, Gov. Haley has said she'll sign the bill into law soon.

Now the only question is: On the day she signs it, will it be fashionable to pin a collard to your searsucker's lapel? 

But if you're more interested in practical things (like good ways to cook and prep collards), The Sate has republished a guide on doing so from 2004 — see it in their report here, or get the big version direct here.