Happy New Years! And boy, this had been quite the year. After our very exciting full of changes 2022, we’re looking for a little rest and even more so, consistency. We’ve moved back East, we’ve moved back West. There’s been several new jobs and even more new schools. There’s also been new homes and new family members and new friends. It’s no wonder that we are doing ALL the things this New Years to bring good luck, good fortune and prosperity upon the Thomas household. We’re starting off with some Black Eyed Peas (Hoppin’ John).
I always thought superstitions were silly. After re-reading my ‘Collard Greens for good luck’ post from last year’s New Years dinner, I’m reconsidering. The peas were molding before we made dinner and had to ditch them. We didn’t have the beans for dinner and then had the year we had. (So much happened this year, I had totally forgot that Jake was coming off Covid and I was subpeonaed to traffic court that first week of 2022!) We will all be eating the mandatory 365 beans at this years dinner.
This past Christmas and New Years celebration week has been wonderful. We shared the ‘Feast of Seven Fishes’ and our family tradition of Shrimp Scampi with my sister on Christmas Eve. She reciprocated with Obachan’s sushi rolls on Christmas day! The four of us had a great New Years celebration in Downtown Denver at Yum Cha, having so many Asian tapas before the fireworks on Denver’s 16th Street Mall. The icing on top, and every Floridians dream – a white Christmas!
Black Eyed Peas (Hoppin’ John)
Ingredients:
- 3 c. black eyed peas, soaked.
- 1/2 lb. bacon diced.
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 3 celery ribs, diced. (I like to use the leaves too for extra flavor!)
- 2 c. chicken broth
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Cook the diced bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon, but leave the remaining renderings.
- On medium heat, add the onions, celery and beans until the celery is soft soft. (Between 5-10 minutes)
- Stir in the flour, coating the beans. Then pour in the chicken broth and stir as it will slightly thicken.
- Add in the bay leaves and garlic powder.
- Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the bacon pieces back in before serving.
I always have to hide my bacon, some one is always trying to steal them! Even to the point that in the past we’ve had this ‘vegetarian’ style. I would think if you wanted to really make this vegetarian you could replace the chicken broth with veggie and a couple tablespoons of butter instead of the bacon fat.
File: United States; Southern, Black Eyed Peas (Hoppin’ John)
