Everything is better with bacon, including black-eyed peas. This is a very simple, very easy recipe, but believe me, it rivals that of many, many other more complicated. Sometimes, simple is best. This is a down home dinner that will stick to your ribs and make you want 2nds or even 3rds. But it’s all good. You’ll have plenty!

Oh! Did I mention? Traditionally, black-eyed peas are served on New Years and are said to bring good luck. Good food that brings good luck. What are you waiting for? Enjoy!

Black-Eyed Peas:

1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and cleaned – $.98
8 ozs bacon ends or regular bacon, cut in pieces, cooked (bacon ends are cheaper, so that’s my obvious, yet yummy choice) – $2.00
1 Tbsp garlic, minced – pantry
1 Tbsp olive oil or butter – pantry
1 medium yellow onion, diced – $.45
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper – pantry
2 bay leaves – pantry
1 Tbsp Soul Season or Cajun Spice – pantry
1-2 quarts chicken stock, or water (I add 1 Tbsp bouillon to water, it’s cheaper) – pantry

COST: $3.43

In a large pot, cook bacon till nearly done. Drain 75% of the oil and return to heat. Add onion to bacon and saute for 3 minutes on medium heat. Next, add butter and garlic and cook for just a minute or so. Add beans and fill pot with water, at least 2 inches above peas. Add soul seasoning, pepper, bay leaves and bouillon powder. Stir, cover and bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Make sure to watch that liquid doesn’t run down.

At the end of 1 1/2 hours, remove lid and bring to rapid simmer. Cook for another 30 mins or until liquid cooks down and peas are nice and tender.

Of course, these are perfect with homestyle biscuits (Mimi’s) and citrus salad.

Citrus Salad:

Salad:
1/4 head of lettuce and 1/4 of cabbage, shredded- .50
2 Roma Tomato, sliced – .70
1 cucumber, julienned – .33
1 bell pepper, sliced – .50

Citrus Dressing:
1/3 c. oil – pantry
1 fresh lemon, juiced – .25
1/2 orange, juiced – .50
1 tsp sugar – pantry
1 tsp garlic, minced or crushed – pantry
dash of salt and pepper – pantry

COST: $2.78

Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk very, very well. You can use a blender or food processor, but hand whisking is fine too. Once mixed, toss into salad and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mimi’s Biscuits:

This is a very simple biscuit recipe and super delicious! Believe it or not, I got it from a book and NOT a cook book. I read it in Shem Creek, by Dorthea Benton Frank. I sometimes modify mine with lard. Today, I mixed half lard and half butter. WOW! Perfect. So easy and so yummy!

2 cups all purpose flour – .50
1 Tbsp baking powder – Pantry
1/2 tsp salt – Pantry
1/3 cup vegetable shortening or lard (or even butter) – .20
3/4 cup milk – .25

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Cut in lard and butter. Stir in milk. Lightly flour a large cutting board or countertop. Place dough in center. Knead lightly, 10 times or so. Lightly roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with floured metal cutter or I used a small glass. Bake 10-12 min. Serve hot! Makes about 10-12 biscuits.

COST: $.95

GRAND TOTAL: $7.16