The neighborhood was a-hopping and a-popping last night..we could hear parties on our street and a couple of the neighboring streets (we live in a area of 1/2 acre properties..those were SOME parties!!!). At about 5 minutes to midnight, we got our coats on and stood out in the front yard..we could HEAR the countdown from a couple of the parties..at least 3 or 4 nearby neighbors shot off aerial fireworks..lovely..
There has been a lot of talk about having black eye peas on New Year's Day..said to bring luck and good fortune if eaten on the first day of the new year. So...I checked my cupboard and low and behold, I actually have a small bag of dried peas. I decided to make a pot of them..when I told my DH what I was making for lunch..the conversation went something like this:
DH: "EWWW..I HATE black eye peas...make 'em for you, but don't give any to me!"
Me: "You haven't had black eye peas the way I am going to make them..so how would you know if you like them or not?" (of course..I hadn't had them the way I was going to fix them either, but that was besides the point!)
DH: "Ok, I'll taste them..but just give me one bite.."
(this conversation is sounding suspiciously like talking to my DGD..she says she hates everything new..but it takes a bit more cajoling to get her to try something new.)
An hour elapsed ..
I boiled the peas...after they boiled for around 20 minutes or so, I added lentils, chopped celery, a minced shallot, 4 small tomatoes, a veggie bullion cube, fresh pepper, a pinch or two of rosemary and about a 1/2 teaspoon of cumin and let that simmer for 30 minutes or so..then added about 6 pieces of crisp bacon, crumbled...gave DH his spoonful of peas...
...and can you guess what happened then?
He liked them..and asked for a second helping!
Reminds me of the episode with the spinach back when we were first married (I went to wash my hands, came back and he had eaten not only his bite of spinach but half of my serving as well!)
