No Stupid Questions

People are mostly recommending what I'd consider intermediate level cooking.

Cheese grits are delicious and easy. Buy a bag of 5 minute grits (not instant, never buy instant grits) cook according to directions - make sure to salt the water. At the end when it's like bubbling lava, add shredded cheese of your choice and if you have it, nutritional yeast makes them better, but don't worry, it's good either way. Possible additions - jalapenos, smoked paprika. Serve with a fried egg on top.

Freakishly delicious and so easy.

As a New Englander that moved to the south. Tenderloin biscuits for breakfast. Cook you up a pork tenderloin , slice it thick and slap it on a biscuit hot. No idea how I lived without these so long. They do the same with very thick sliced fried bologna..... Which is novel but the tenderloin rocks. No idea why the south can't make a biscuit that won't throw crumbs 2 feet in every direction though.

Fried chicken, southern gravy from the drippings, served with biscuits.

HOT DOG SURPRISE!!?

You will need:

1. 1 packet of hot dogs, Bar S brand if available
2. 1 box of unflavored gelatin
3. 1 jar of cocktail onions

Boil hot dogs in four (4) cups of water, then remove the hot dogs and place them on a paper towel for 45 minutes to one hour. Add gelatin to the still boiling water, stir until completely dissolved. Add hot dogs and cocktail onions to the gelatin mix, and pour into your favorite shaped dish (try a Bundt pan for extra down home charm!). Chill until solid, then place the pan in the refrigerator to chill for four hours. Remove from refrigerator and flip pan upside down onto a serving platter. Serve at room temperature.

I've lived in the US south my entire life

go for salmon croquettes and stretch that canned fish into something extra delicious!

https://sandrakitchen.com/alton-brown-salmon-croquettes/

Not very southern, but I like to make a garlic fake-oli with it: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/213608/garlic-aioli/

Biscuits and gravy. Shrimp and grits.

Hoppin John

https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/classic-hoppin-john-recipe

Don't let the number of ingredients scare you. It's basically just bacon or ham, black eyed peas, and veggies over rice.

This version says to strain the cooking liquid (step 4). Sometimes I like leaving it in and eating it as more of a stew with cornbread (no rice).

Red beans and rice

Boiled Okra Bonanza

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh whole okra, cross-cut into tiny 1/4-inch wheels
• 4 cups warm tap water
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (do not substitute with Miracle Whip)
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Wash the okra thoroughly, leave the stems on for texture, and slice into thin rings.
2. Bring 4 cups of tap water to a gentle simmer on low heat. Dump in the sliced okra.
3. Cover and let it simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until the water transforms into a thick, ropey, translucent mucilage. Do not drain.
4. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and the white vinegar until it forms a lukewarm suspension.
5. Pour into a shallow bowl. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on top and serve with a spoon.

It doesn't get much easier than collards or baked beans.

ETA: or cornbread.

Pecan pie

1 can pinto beans, 1 can mustard greens or collard greens. if there's bacon on hand, throw some of that in. add vinegar or texas pete. done.

Braised collard greens. Takes probably 45 minutes to simmer, but they're delicious, nutritious, and simple!

I dont know your definition of easy, but fried chicken is always a winner, or grilled shrimp.

Hell a grilled rack of ribs is no effort, for me.

Chicken yock is easy, if Virginia counts as deep south