Lucky Bowls

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• Growing up, my family wasn’t much for traditions – and they definitely weren’t superstitious. All of that changed, though, on January first of every year when the world stopped so we could eat black-eyed peas. They are supposed to give you good luck for the entire year and I always figured that it was worth a shot. Even if the rumor isn’t true, at least you’ll get a good meal out of the deal! A lot of black-eyed pea recipes involve a big pot of soup or stew, but I like to split up the ingredients a bit. My Good Luck Bowls feature black-eyed peas (of course) along with braised pork chops and collard greens. It’s perfect for a cold New Year’s Day meal. Black-eyed peas are actually a legume, like beans, which means they are best cooked by soaking them overnight in cold water. Before you soak them, be sure to look through them and check for small pebbles. Sometimes there will be some dirt or pebble in with the peas – that’s just not a good way to start the New Year! And if you're short on time, most black-eyed peas will have a quick soak method on the package if you didn’t plan ahead. When you’re ready to serve, spoon in some black-eyed peas in each bowl. Add a few spoonfuls of the cooking liquid from the peas and then top the dish with some collard greens, a few strips of pork, and some chopped scallions. I’m not sure if I believe in good luck, but I’ll take any excuse to eat this meal!