I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year! I''m posting my blackeyed pea recipe early, so those of you who haven't planned ahead can get out there and stock up before the stores close tonight. You absolutely must have BEP's on New Year's Day, or something really bad might happen.*
Lorette's BEP's
1 biggish onion, chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, chopped
Celery, about 3/4 cup chopped
1-2 large carrots, chopped
1 Bell pepper, any color will do, chopped
Olive oil
Blackeyed peas, 1 pound bag, picked over and rinsed
1-14 ounce can of diced tomatoes, drained (use the juice if you like it more tomato-ey)
Chicken stock, canned
1 bottle of beer
Splash of worcestershire sauce
Ham hock or ham shank (shank is meatier)
Thyme & oregano, a couple of teaspoons each
Bay leaf
Dijon mustard, a teaspoon or two
Salt and pepper
Cayenne, to taste. I start with about 1/4 teaspoon, and generally add more.
Saute the onion, celery, carrot, and pepper in oil in a big pot. Add the garlic when the other veggies are soft, cook for a minute. Add the rinsed peas, the can of tomatoes, the beer, and enough water or chicken stock to cover by about an inch. I usually use the tomato liquid, too. Throw in the seasonings, except for the salt. Add the ham hock and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook until the peas are done, about 45-60 minutes or so. Add salt to taste towards the end of the cooking time. Keep an eye on it, and add more liquid if needed as the peas cook.
Pick the meat off the ham bone, if there is any, and add it to the peas. Serve with cooked rice.
My promised NY resolutions will be in the next post!
*I have no idea if this is true or not, but I'm not taking any chances.
Perfect! I actually bought a bag of BEPs yesterday and soaked them last night. Don’t eat ham, so will do it veggie style and hope that it’s still yummy. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Sounds like a great way to ring in 2009.
Happy New Year!
Lorette, Happy New Year!
It’s true, blackeyed peas are a must. Mine are cooking right now. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I guess I’m tempting fate here by having eaten out last night….
Thank you for posting the BEP recipe! No Southern woman could start the new year without BEPs.
Happy New Years to you and yours!
Ah having grown up in the South, black eyed peas are for (depending which family member is feeding them to you) for luck or health. You also MUST eat greens for money.
Personally, we ate leftovers from our New Year’s Eve dinner party which had neither!
Dang – so THAT’S been my problem all these years. 😉
Oh, yum! I’ll try the recipe. PLUS, I just joined RAVELRY! E
Sounds delicious! Happy 2009!
Glad you’re back. You look as though you have been having a great time, which is more important than blogging!
Happy New Year and plenty of knitting!!! – and some blogging, maybe??! 😉 best knitwishes from Ingrid