A Prosperous Beginning to the New Year

If you are celebrating the New Year in the Southeast, it is most likely you will be served black-eyed peas in some form, either just after midnight or on New Year's day. According to Southern folklore, the black-eyed peas should be the first food to be consumed on New Year's day. It is believed their penny-like appearance brings luck and prosperity throughout the year to come. 

                                                               Black-eyed Peas 
                                                                  adapted from
                                                              Sylvia's Soul Food
                                                                  Sylvia Woods
                                                            & Christopher Styler

Ingredients

1 pound dried black-eyed
   peas
1 piece skin from a smoked
   ham or 2 ounces slab
   bacon, cut into a small slab
1/4 cup pork rib drippings or
   fried chicken drippings or
   bacon drippings
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground
    black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Directions

Pick over the peas to remove the stones and dirt. Rinse the peas well and soak them in cold water for 20 minutes.  Drain well.

Combine the peas and the remaining ingredients in a large pot. Pour in enough cold water to cover the peas by 1 inch. Heat to simmering and cook, covered, until the peas are tender but not mushy, about 1 1/2 hours. Keep an eye on the peas while they are cooking and add more water to keep them cover if necessary.

 

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