Noni's New Year's Black Eyed Peas

Ingredients

  • 1 lb fresh black eyed peas (or dried if fresh are not available)
  • 1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
  • 4 tbsp bacon drippings (or vegetable oil)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ½ tsp salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • a few sprigs of fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 4 cups homemade chicken stock (or low-salt stock in the carton or plain water)

Special Equipment

  • 6 quart Dutch oven with lid

How-to

  1. If using dried peas, rinse them well and pick out any bad ones.  Soak dried peas in cold water overnight.  If using fresh peas, just rinse and drain well
  2. In a 6 quart Dutch oven, heat 4 tbsp bacon drippings and sauté the onion for 2 minutes
  3. Add the ham bone and continue to cook 2 minutes more
  4. Add the drained beans, ½ tsp salt, black pepper to taste, the thyme and the bay leaf
  5. Cover all with the chicken stock (or use plain water if you prefer); stir well and cover the pot
  6. Lower flame to medium-low setting and cook for 25 minutes, then test for doneness. If using dried peas it might take a little longer