Iwrote this method of cooking black-eyed peas in 2021, the hated year when we all needed good luck!
It is hereby decreed by the authority vested in me that you have to eat blackeyed peas on New Year’s Day, and I don’t want to hear any bellyaching about it. I don’t think enough of you ate them last year because… 2020.
So I’m going to tell you how I make and eat them. The doctoring up before eating them is important. At least to me. And some guy from Cameron is the one who taught me how to do it. His recipe was in a cookbook that Mom gave me, and I swear by his doctoring up method.
I usually buy some sort of smoked meat like ham hocks to start making the broth. Sautee onions, celery, garlic (and any other veggies you like to add) then fill the pot with water and/or chicken stock. Drop in the smoked meat. Boil that for a long time. I usually do this part the day before.
Add the black-eyed peas and cook them until they are tender. Also make some cornbread. It’s illegal to eat black-eyed peas without cornbread.
Remove the ham hocks and cut the meat into bite size pieces and add them back to the peas.
Now for the doctoring. Place your hot cornbread in your bowl. Ladle the peas on top without much liquid. Add more liquid if needed to make the cornbread moist but not enough to make it soupy. Next, top with cold cut up tomatoes and green onions. I top with a very healthy sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper and some kosher salt.
That combination of flavors, textures and different temperatures makes for some very good eating.
What else could you add, you may ask. It’s also good with smoked sausage or bacon. I have added raw spinach during the cooking of the peas. If you like things spicy you could add jalapenos or cayenne pepper.
Now eat your black-eyed peas or I will have to add your name to the jail log in next week’s paper. —kwc— Oranges and grapes are also supposed to be good luck when eaten on New Year’s Day, so here’s a fruit salad. Add the bananas if you dare. We don’t like them at my house.
Summer Fruit Salad 1 pound strawberries, quartered 6 ounces raspberries 3 ounces blackberries 6 ounces blueberries 1/4 fresh pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces 2 kiwi, sliced 1/4 cantaloupe, cut into bite-size pieces 4 ounces green grapes, halved 1 medium banana, sliced and dipped in lemon juice 4-5 Mandarin oranges, divided Fruit Salad Dressing 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons honey 4-10 mint leaves, roughly chopped Combine fruit in a large serving bowl (except bananas). Set aside. Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Shake vigorously to combine (shaking helps get the best flavor out of the mint).
Pour the dressing over the salad shortly before serving. Gently toss fruit to coat in dressing. Garnish with bananas. —kwc— Greens are for money when eaten on New Year’s day so here’s an easy cabbage recipe.
Southern Fried Cabbage
1 large head of cabbage roughly chopped 8 slices thick cut bacon diced 1 sweet onion diced 2 tbsp butter optional Salt and black pepper to taste Add diced bacon to a large saute pan and cook over medium heat until crispy. Do not drain.
Add onions and cook until softened and browned, about 5 minutes.
Add cabbage, half at a time if you need to, and mix with the bacon and onions. Cook until it is softened.
If you want to add even more flavor add a couple tablespoons of butter and stir until combined.
Season with salt and black pepper.
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