I can't believe this upbeat thread is still going!
So, I must join in.
Having been born and mostly raised in the south, I ate a lot of okra, and love it, no matter how it is prepared.
However, my sister, who is a year older, was and somewhat still is, a pickier eater. She hated it.
After spending some time in Baton Rouge near my Cajun cousin, who was an excellent cook, I was blessed with trying an okra variation "cajun style".
It was simply named, "Okra-Tomato Bake".
One weekend when I was at my parents' home and my sister and her family were there, I decided to make this dish without telling her what all the ingredients were. She loved it.
And, yes, you guessed it...the secret ingredient was about a pound of fried, crumbled BACON.
Dang, now I want to make some; I'm hungry.