New Year's Blackeye Peas

Every New Year's Day, it's been a tradition in my family to eat blackeye peas and collard greens, for good luck and wealth.  So, I have tried to figure out how to make them, without my grandmother's recipe.  I have also tried to figure out how to use all of the leftover meat from Christmas Dinner, especially when we are all tired of leftovers!  So, I carve and chop the leftover turkey and ham, and freeze them in 1lb portions for future recipes... Like New Year's Day Blackeye Peas!  Here's my recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, and I hope it brings you good luck too!

New Year's Day Blackeye Peas
Serves 8-10, total time 17+ hrs, 60 min hands on

Ingredients
1 lb Blackeye peas, dry beans
1 lb Leftover Ham (or turkey legs)
2 c low sodium chicken broth
6 c water (plus 8c for soaking)
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 tbsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper

Directions
Sort peas, then rinse peas.

Soak peas for 8hrs or overnight, in 8 cups of water.

Next morning, drain peas.  Add chicken broth and water to a cast iron Dutch oven.  Then add ham and onions, bring to a boil.

Add peas, then boil for 5 min.  Turn down heat to medium-low, and simmer for 6-8 hrs, until desired tenderness.  Then add garlic powder, salt, and pepper, simmer for another 30-60 min.

Serve over brown rice with a side of collard greens... Yum!  Happy New Year!!

P.S. I also use extra ham in my collard greens!