new years day pickled peas!

 southerners have a tradition of eating lucky foods on new year’s day to set us up for success in the coming months. there are lots of different kinds of lucky foods, but the most common in the south is black eyed peas in some form or fashion. turnip greens or cabbage are also pretty standard in the south since they look like money, which means you’ll have better finances in the new year.

so it turns out that boone (my honey) doesn’t really like the flavor of black eyed peas, but there is no way someone married to me is going to start off a brand new year on the wrong foot, so i insist that he eats at least one little pea.

lots of people like hoppin’ john, a recipe from south carolina or texas or something. our first NYday as a married couple we made it with black eyed pea and turnip green soup, which i liked just fine, but boone thought the peas tasted like an ashtray. ew.

last year, i made pickled peas or what my mom calls “redneck caviar” (see above) and it was a big hit because it was tart, juicy, and really so delishy. so much so that i made it again this year to take with us to austin, tx… and i just thought i’d share the recipe because i just can’t stand the thought that YOU might not have luck next year without it. happy new year! ps: please remember that i’m absolutely not a professional photographer. keep this in mind if you feel compelled to judge my snapshots.

 – 4 cans blackeyed peas

 – 1/2 cup red wine vinegar

 – 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (recipe says to use 2 cups but i think that’s too much)

 – salt and pepper to taste

 – 4 minced garlic cloves

 – 2 white/yellow onions finely chopped (recipe says “thin rings” but who wants to put a ring of onion    on a chip?)

 – 1 or 1/2 red onion finely chopped

my additions:

 – 1 jalapeno pepper

 – 1 green or red bell pepper

drain the peas and rinse them well.