SOUPS / VEGETABLES
New Year's Black-Eyed Peas
 A traditional New Year food said to bring "good luck" is by consuming black-eyed peas on the first day of the year. These legumes are typically cooked with either hog jowls or ham bones and collard greens. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity, others consider the greens a symbol of money. As a family tradition, the luck maybe in the fact that you are sharing it together. Happy New Year.
Serves 8

Best made on December 31st and served on New Year's  
INGRED:

3  lbs dried black-eyed peas [or 3-16 oz  frozen bags]

2  medium onions

2  green bell peppers

1  hog jowl or ham bone

3  minced cloves garlic

ground pepper to taste

1 package of collard greens (fresh or frozen)

 

[For dried black-eyed peas, wash and soak overnight.  Discard water before using.]

 
 
RECIPE:

1.  Sauté onion and green peppers in olive oil until translucent, for about 1 to 2 minutes.  Then add ground pepper. 

2.  After sauté, add the minced garlic to blend for about 30 seconds (don't allow the garlic to brown).  then add the ham bones.

3.  Add enough water to cover the ham bone, hog jowl, or hunk of salt pork and cook for 2 hours.

4.  After the ham has been cooked add black-eyed peas and cook for the time as directed on package (dried peas take about 45-60 mins. and fresh or frozen about half the time).  Add the collard greens 15 minis. before peas finish (as package direction suggests)

 5.  Cook peas until almost tender.

Serve alone or over rice.

                                    
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