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Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day – Oh Yeah!

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Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day

 

Oh Yeah!!

Au Revoir, Adios, Sayonara and good riddance 2021! What a crap year. I’m suffering from so much pandemic fatigue and anxiety, I welcome 2022 with open arms. For a new beginning if nothing else. My gratitude journal has continuously said throughout the year, “I’m grateful for surviving this time” and it’s true. I’m also grateful for having a mother who always saw the brighter side of life. A trait she’s passed on to me. As a result, I’m looking forward to seeing what the new year brings. What challenges will there be to overcome? What triumphs will I achieve? 

Every time I submit a blog, especially these food blogs, I’m grateful. My last blog, What is Kwanzaa anyway?, I talked of the culmination on January 1 of the feast of Kwanzaa. Black eyed peas are made and, as tradition goes, consuming them comes with a prosperous new year. I also learned that, in order to guarantee prosperity, 365 black eye peas needed to be consumed. A bit of a stretch for me, but, because I’d never made them before, nor been a huge fan, I thought I’d try my hand. Black eyed peas blackjack. These came out fantastic. I’m thrilled to pass them on to you, my reader. 

Christmas dinner was at Deborah’s, Deborah’s Gumbo-My first attempt (Epic Fail). I asked her method for making black eye peas, she can make anything delectable. I also browsed YouTube, the rabbit hole I fall down almost daily, and took a compilation of everything I learned. I had a ham bone I had frozen from Thanksgiving and knew I wanted to use that. Thankfully, the results were much better than the gumbo. As a matter of fact, a fan was born and I intend to continue making them often. With the peas as the star, this dish is basically a blank canvas where you add what tastes good to you, cook them low and slow and enjoy. Rice or cornbread accompany nicely.

CB's Black Eyed Peas
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These videos, although arduous and time consuming, are so fun. Each food video I try to sneak in a line or two from something I appeared in many years ago. The opening scene in this one is of actor Joe Mantegna and I from an HBO movie called State of Emergency. Joe Mantegna is one of my favorite actors and people of all time and working with him and the rest of the cast was a career highlight. I’m fortunate to have had a few of them.

 

CB's Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Easy to make and delicious to eat. CB's Black Eyed Peas are great to make for New Year's Day and Kwanzaa.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 8 hours
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 11 hours
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch Oven or large heavy bottomed saucepan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Dried Black Eyed Peas rinsed, soaked overnight
  • 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable stock
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 leftover Ham bone or Ham shank
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 jalapeno pepper optional
  • 2 to 3 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 tsp slap yo mamma or favorite creole seasoning
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Soak beans overnight or at least 8 hours. Rinse drain and set aside
  • In a dutch oven or large saucepan, add extra virgin olive oil over low to medium low heat. Add onions, carrots and thyme. Stir one minute to begin cooking.
  • Add Stock and Water. Add bay leaves, garlic, jalapeno and seasonings. Stir.
  • Add ham, ham bone and drained Black eyed Peas. Cover. Bring to a boil and Reduce to a simmer for at least 3 hours.
  • Optional. Remove about a cup of peas and smash with a fork or back of a spoon. Return to pot and stir to thicken. Simmer for another 30 to 45 minutes until reduced and thickened to desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve over rice or with cornbread. Enjoy!

Conclusion

I’ll make no resolutions this year. The fact that I’m still above ground brings much gratitude especially in these extraordinary times. I’ll continue trying to not sweat the small stuff and be more judicious with my reactions. 10 Ways to Enhance Your Life, will be a blog I refer to often to remind me that things are achievable and perspective is key. And I will keep looking forward, not backward, to another year of good food, good friends and good family. I hope the same for you, my valued reader. Happy New Year! Be safe.

 

Any resolutions for the new year?

 

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Recipe Rating




  1. Kimm Baersch says:
    December 31, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    Happy New Year Chris! In Chile on NY Eve, we must eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight as well as 3 spoonfuls of lentils and try not to joke! It’s a lot in a short amount of time but we seem to be able to do it each year and of course a chaser of champagne doesn’t hurt. Also, if you are interested in travel, they suggest that you pack your suitcase today, and do one lap around the block, and I suggest you do that now while there is a break in the rain. Jorge’s aunt Ivannia swear’s by this one.

    I remember my mom making the black eyed peas every new years day along with cabbage rolls. She was southern, and my step dad was Irish, so that might have been a nod to his heritage.

    Here’s to staying alive and healthy in 2022 Chris! All my best wishes, Kimm

    Reply
  2. David Druid says:
    December 31, 2021 at 10:12 pm

    I’ve never had black eye3d peas, but, after reading your description, I’ve got to try it. Your approach to every subject you introduce/cover is so uplifting and positive I can’t help bu8t walk away with a smile. Sure we’ve got to be wary of life’s ope manholes but we don’t always have to live in fear of them. We’ve gotten this far because we have good instincts coupled with a dash of smarts and three cups of luck. Can’t wait to see how much better 2022 will be. I think we can all relate to that.
    RIP Betty White. There’s a great example of a long life well lived. Wish the same for all our family.

    Reply
  3. Laura Boccaletti says:
    January 1, 2022 at 5:28 am

    I’ve done a somewhat similar recipe with lentils (in Italy, New Year’s lentils are obligatory), but I’ll have to
    try your black eyed peas, too, in a vegan version.
    Thank you Chris, for a year of blogs and recipes. Here’s to another happy, healthy, informative, amusing
    and delicious year!

    Reply
    • CB says:
      January 1, 2022 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you so much Laura! Yes, a vegan version with veggie stock and no meat is often made and equally delicious. Thanks also for your support and encouragement. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  4. Noreen says:
    January 1, 2022 at 8:52 pm

    What a great video! I love intercutting your acting scenes. Bravo on all counts. Thanks for taking the time and all the effort that goes into making these for us. So appreciated. You are a light during a dark time.

    Reply
  5. Gayle Wilhite says:
    January 1, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    This is very similar to the Lima Beans and Ham that we had as kids. I still love them although none of my kids do.
    I like your seasonings and I am going to try your recipe. I hope it will freeze well. If I make a big pot of anything, I always freeze most of it for later.

    Thanks, Chris
    Gayle

    Reply
  6. Deborah says:
    January 1, 2022 at 11:36 pm

    Very good young man. I’m sure your peas are absolutely delicious. They may become your contribution to our family dinners. Keep up the good work on inspiring our epicurean ventures. I’m patiently waiting to taste them.

    Reply
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