Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Black Eyed Peas

What's luck got to do with it? Well, if you're from the south, eating black eyed peas on New Years day has a lot to do with it.  If you're interested in trying your hand at this tradition, read on.

Black Eyed Peas



Here's what you'll need.
1 (16 oz) pkg. black eyed peas
1 medium onion, chopped
6 cups water
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, whole and in their skins
1 ham bone, ham hock, or diced side meat
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp.ground mustard powder
2 tbsp. honey

To begin, wash your peas thoroughly (1pulled four little dirt clots out of my colander while picking over my peas).  After my peas were cleaned, I placed them in a stock pot and covered them with approximately 2 inches of water and placed them over high heat and boiled for two to three minutes.  Reduced the heat to medium-low and add the remaining water, chopped onion, garlic cloves, and meat and cook until peas become tender, around an hour.  Keep your pot covered and check often to ensure that there's enough liquid in the pot, adding more if it looks like the water level is getting too low.  Add your seasonings near the end, turning the heat to low and cooking for another 15-30 minutes after adding so that the flavors incorporate.  Remove the garlic pods  from the pot and place on a cutting board.  You will be able to slip the garlic from its skins and mash with a spoon.  Add the mashed garlic pulp back to the pot and stir well to mix it all in.  Taste before serving and adjust seasoning to your liking.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

 
Merry Christmas, friends.  I hope that your heart's filled with the warmth and spirit of the season. 

Love,

The Kitchen Witch

Monday, December 10, 2012

Greetings

Guess who is graduating.
 
Did you guess?  Well, I'm excited and looking forward to my graduation ceremony next weekend, but I'm nervous about finding work.  I had the best student-teaching experience with a group of kindergarten students, or as Bebe says, "kiddie gardeners," a girl could have.  I guess in a way, I've been a kiddie gardener, feeding them full of information and watching them grow.  Children are amazing.  I'm going to miss that little classroom bunch. 

In the meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy spending time with my own little ones during the holidays.  I was so busy with school, I'm ashamed to say, I didn't cook as often as I like.  Baking was nil, good for the figure, but we missed all those tasty desserts an awful lot.

Hubby and I got all dolled up for our first party of the season...
We've trimmed our tree...
Here's Bebe, pouting because Mom told her she couldn't touch the lights.
 
 
 

I've even wrapped a few gifts.  I've still got school related errands to finish up before graduation so I haven't tackled the holiday baking, but that's next on my list.  Stay tuned.  I'll post some yummy things over the next few weeks.

 I've missed y'all and hope that all has been well.

The Kitchen Witch