The Soultown! Volume IV: Issue 1 JANUARY 2020 | Page 14

Meme's Recipes H appy New Year! Everyone knows that adding a bowl of Black-Eyed Peas to your meal brings good luck for the new year. It’s a tradition in African American families that has remained throughout many centuries. Black-Eyed Peas and other soul food dishes are intended to feed the souls of Black folks. It is one of very few traditions Black folks have that connects us to our ancestors. For some of you youngsters that spend some time in the kitchen and need a recipe, Meme’s Recipes are here for you. Note: This recipe is the non-pork option. Feel free to replace the turkey option with a ham bone - if you choose. (It is believed that ham hocks add a nice, smokey, rustic flavor, but you decide.) Ingredients 1 pound dry black-eyed peas 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 (32 ounces) cartons or cans chicken broth 8 cups of water Turkey necks or 1 pound smoked ham hocks 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes 1 bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp of sugar 1. Get dry Black-eyed peas 24 hours before cooking. Place the black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight, then remove the broken peas. Drain and rinse before using. 2. Rinse the water off the black-eyed peas to remove the grit and dirt and add them to the pot of smoked turkey wings. Smoked turkey wings can be used as a base to add more flavor to be started before you add the peas. (Non-pork option) 3. In a large stockpot over medium heat, cook and stir onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is well M em e’s Re cip e Mouthwatering Black-Eyed Peas done. 4. Pour in chicken broth and 8 cups water, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in soaked black-eyed peas, ham hocks, tomatoes, pepperoncini, bay leaf, garlic powder, thyme, and salt and pepper. Add just a teaspoon of sugar, cover and simmer until peas are tender and the broth is thickened about 3-4 hours. 5. Be sure to stir from time to time to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. 6. You will know they are done when you taste them and the shell is very soft. Enjoy with cornbread or even hot water cornbread with raw green onion and hot sauce. Say your blessings and eat to your heart’s content! If you’d like to share one of your grandparent’s recipes, please send photo of her and meal to [email protected]. On behalf of The Soultown Magazine, we would like to thank Meme for her soulful Black- Eyed Peas recipe and for having SOUL! , Courtesy Photo 14 Jan. 2020 • Immortalizing Our Stories to Implore Positive Progress In Our Communities • thesoultown.com