How to Make Homemade Blackeyed Peas with Country Style Bacon

Hi again, it's your new, old friend Bubba Jasper and I'd like to share with you another great recipe. This time out it's Homemade Blackeyed Peas with Country Style Bacon and man are they great! This dish is made from dried blackeyed peas which have been soaked in water for a few hours prior to cooking. As you might know, dried peas and beans have been sustaining people for centuries. They are a great source of protein and are reasonably cheap. Many cultures rely on these types of food products to survive. If you've read any of my other hubs then you know I have a fondness for history and food. Anyway, enough about that, on with the show as they say!

First I will let you know that I received this bacon from my sister-in-law Judy this past Memorial Day as my wife and I were invited to her home for dinner. No we didn't have bacon! We had Italian and turkey sandwiches which were made by my brother-in-law Rudie. Judy was getting some items from the refrigerator and brought out a 3 pound package of bacon pieces she had purchased earlier that weekend. For some reason she brought it to the table and showed it to my wife and I. Next thing I knew she had opened it and placed about half of it in a large zip lock bag for us to take home. Needless to say the wheels started turning in my head and I envisioned a huge pot of pinto beans or blackeyed peas with some of that beautiful cured pork! I guess I have Judy to blame or thank for this hub as I am at this very moment cooking the pot of blackeyed peas shown in the above pictures as I write!

Now I'll tell you why I call this bacon "country style". This bacon Judy gave us is not in individual slices but in individual chunks and rough slices. Some of it is very thick and some is just a little thick while having really lean meaty ends similar to ham! What beautiful pieces of pork they are! I guess that's why the wheels started turning as soon as I saw it. This bacon reminds me of the homemade bacon that we've made in the past when we've butchered a hog. That homemade bacon was salted and smoked at my uncle's home and was sliced by knife as needed, meaning it was usually cut very thick! I just love this type of bacon. Being thick cut the meaty ends are like fine cured ham when cooked! It is so much different than the processed stuff we buy in the stores now days. And I know that it will be terrific in my pot of blackeyed peas on the stove right now!

I have included the recipe below of course as is the reason I am writing this hub! I hope you will try it and let me know what you think!

• 1lb dried blackeyed peas
• 1/4lb thick sliced bacon, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 rib celery, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1tbls creole seasoning, or to taste
• 1tsp red pepper flakes
• chicken bouillon, to taste
• water

Soak peas in enough water to cover for several hours prior to cooking. Dice the bacon. Dice the yellow onion, celery and green bell pepper. Chop garlic and keep separate from other vegetables for the moment. Stir fry bacon in a large pot until somewhat brown to render some of the fat out. Add in the onion, celery and bell peppers (this is also called the Holy Trinity and is the base for many Cajun and Creole dishes). Cook and stir for about 10 minutes to soften vegetables. Add in the garlic and bay leaves. Drain peas in colander and add to pot. Add enough water to cover peas by 2 inches or so. Allow pot to come to boil and turn down heat to medium low and cover. Cook while checking and stirring about every 15 minutes. Add water as needed. After about 1 hour add in the red pepper flakes, creole seasoning and the chicken bouillon. Stir to mix well. Cook another hour or so until done. Adjust seasoning to your liking.

I like to serve this dish over fresh steamed white rice in large bowls with hot buttered corn bread, ice cold sliced tomatoes and whole green onions on the side. Can also have a bottle of your favorite hot sauce or vinegar pepper sauce to pass around to splash on top as desired. Iced tea with lemon is excellent to wash this down!

I know you'll love this recipe if you like blackeyed peas! Share this dish soon with your family and friends! It's what life is all about! Remember to have fun and it will all come out great!

Food is good! Long live the farmer! Long live the chef! Long live the stove!

Thanks,

Bubba