31 days … 30+ successes, 1 epic fail, a 50th blog post made and a challenge officially smashed to bits!
As I hunker down to enjoy my NYE (watching my dearest niece nap and awaiting my nephew’s arrival), I can’t think of any place or person I’d rather be. No lists of things I want to change this year. No lists of things to put into my routine. No lists of accomplishments to make by the end of 2014. This year I have one simple request over my blackeyed (lucky) peas … to be better.
Cheers!

Lucky blackeyed-pea soup with greens
What you’ll need:
- Dried blackeyed-peas, soaked overnight in cold water, rinsed & drained
- 1 red onion, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tsp of dried oregano
- 10 oz. tomato sauce
- 1/2 small butternut squash, diced
- ham pieces (I used leftover country ham from Christmas – thanks Granny)
- 8 cups of chicken stock
- 3 tbsp of olive oil
- salt & pepper
- healthy dash of hot sauce (I used Frank’s here) + more for garnish
- greens (collards, kale, mustard, arugula, or escarole – I used kale, as I had it on hand)
- Italian parsley for garnish
What you’ll do:
- Sautee carrots, butternut squash, garlic & onions in olive oil until fragrant
- Add bay leaves, oregano, tomato sauce, and chicken stock. Bring to boil
- Add blackeyed-peas and reduce heat to simmer for 3 hours
- Add greens and allow to simmer an additional hour
- Top with a bit of hot sauce and parsley. Serve with hot water cornbread
- Enjoy!