Every year, I struggle with coming up with gifts to give co-workers and friends. It's always such a conundrum--I don't want to go overboard on the gifts and make people feel bad...some people love sweets, other people would kill me if I gave them more candy or carbohydrates...and I would prefer to give something home-made...but usually, I draw a blank and/or run out of time so I just don't do anything!
This year, however, I finally figured out a gift that EVERYBODY should appreciate. I bottled up a lil' bit of good luck and prosperity and put it in a jar!
By this point, you may be asking yourself, "And exactly how does she do that???"
It's easy. All you need is black-eyed peas!
And how do black-eyed peas equate good luck and prosperity?!
Walk into most any Southern kitchen on New Year’s Day and there’ll be a pot of black-eyed peas on the stove or a dish featuring some form of black-eyed peas on the table. The peas are thought to be African in origin and have been a mainstay of the Southern diet for over 300 years. One popular theory on the marriage of black-eyed peas and good luck dates back to the Civil War, when Union troops stripped the countryside of food, crops, and livestock, and destroyed whatever they couldn’t carry away. At that time, Northerners considered field peas and field corn suitable only for animal fodder, and didn’t steal or destroy these humble foods, thus leaving food for Southerners to eat during the conflicts bleakest days. And that’s good luck.
The jars of good luck are easy to prepare. All you need is a quart-sized Mason jar, a pound of black-eyed peas, various dried seasonings and a way to attach a recipe. And then it's time to spread the love! Errr, luck!
Most often, black-eyed peas are prepared as Hoppin' John on New Year's Day...but, knowing most of the recipients are true Midwesterners, I changed up the attached recipe some. I included a recipe for Black Eyed Pea Soup--but whenever we make it, we throw in some pig and then drain off the excess liquid and serve it over white rice...nothing beats a big old bowl of soul food!
In case you're interested in bottling up your own bit of good luck and prosperity, the detailed directions and recipe are below!
GOOD LUCK & PROSPERITY IN A JAR
3 1/2 cups (1lb) dried black eyed peas
For Seasoning Packet:
1/2 cup dried minced onion
6 T. chicken bouillon granules
2T. dried parsley flakes
1 T. sugar
2 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Add 2 cups of the peas into a wide mouth 1quart canning jar. Mix and place the seasoning in a small plastic bag. Place the packet on top of the peas. Add the remaining peas.
Attach this to the Jar:
Black Eyed Pea Soup
Remove seasoning packet and set aside. Rinse peas and place in microwave safe dish. Cover with water, 1 to 2 inches over the top of the beans. Cover the dish loosely with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 15 minutes, rotating after 7 minutes. Drain and rinse beans. Place beans in a large soup pot. Add 12 cups water, 2 (14oz) can of diced or crushed tomatoes & Seasoning packet. Cover, bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Stir Occasionally.
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