Happy New Year Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Happy New Year!

I'm excited about 2010 and all the fun and anticipation a New Year brings. It doesn't look like I'll be holding a baby on my lap while watching the ball drop, however. This new little one is not following the path my other two took of arriving at exactly 38 weeks, but instead is teasing with lots of contractions and then nothing for a few hours.

2010 may be the year I develop a great deal of patience.

or completely lose my marbles.

the jury's still deliberating.

I'm not bringing a slow cooker dish (shocking, I know!) to our friend's house tonight for New Years At 9 because I wasn't sure if we'd have a newborn or be in the hospital. Instead, the kids and I are going to make a fabulous apple pie thanks to the totally awesome gluten free pie shells from Whole Foods.

and tomorrow? Tomorrow we'll eat Black Eyed Pea soup. This is the recipe I used last year, and I'm looking forward to making it again. I'm going to re-print it the way it appeared a year ago.

Have an absolutely wonderful 2010 full of lots of love and hugs.

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CrockPot Black Eyed Pea Soup


Day 366.
because it's Leap Year.

Happy New Year's Eve! I made the most rockingest black eyed pea soup yesterday, and I take back everything I said last year about black eyed peas. They aren't gross. I just didn't know what I was doing.
And thank you also for all of the emails explaining pig anatomy. I get it now.


Although this is the end of my year-long challenge, the blog will not die, and I will not go hide in a corner in the fetal position. I promise.

Eating black eyed peas on New Years Day is good luck and is said to bring prosperity which can't be a bad thing. Ring in 2009 on the right note. Make this soup.

The Ingredients.

--1 pound dried black eyed peas
--1 pound spicy sausage (I used Aidells chicken habanero and green chile)
--6 cups chicken broth
--1 yellow onion, diced

--1 cup diced carrots
--1 cup diced celery
--4 cloves garlic, diced

--1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (not pictured. I didn't know I needed it at first. But I did.)
--1 tsp kosher salt
--1/2 tsp black pepper
--
Tabasco sauce (to add at the end to taste)

The Directions.

Soak your beans overnight. Drain and pick out the undesirables (broken, discolored beans) in the morning.


Use a 5 to 6 quart crockpot. This will serve about 8 people. Dice the veggies, and dump them into your crockpot with the pre-soaked beans. Add sliced sausage. Pour in broth, and stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for about 6.
Before serving, use a stick blender to smash up about 1 cup of beans. If you don't have a stick blender, scoop out 1 cup of beans, blend them in a traditional blender, and add back to the soup. Don't blend too much---just enough to get the broth thicker and creamy-looking.

Ladle into bowls, and add
Tabasco sauce to taste.

The Verdict.


This tastes amazing. I am so glad that I tried cooking black eyed peas again---they are earthier than other beans and make a fantastic soup base. I've got a few different
tupperwares ready to go for lunches for the next few days. My brother and sister-in-law liked it too. The kids didn't taste it---they had spaghetti for dinner.

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at December 31, 2009

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What they say about this article

  1. Happy New Year Stephanie! I love black eyed peas for celebrating the new year! I guess I better pull the crockpot out tomorrow morning and make some stew.

    Enjoy these last moments with 2 little ones...pretty soon you'll be very busy with 3!

    -Ali :)

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  2. Sending easy labor thoughts your way! Being your 3rd, I think it should be pretty quick for you - when she decides to show. :) My youngest, now 2, was due Jan 6 but arrived Nov 24 and spent a month in the NICU. All is well now - best of luck to you!

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  3. My husband hates black eyed peas - so I can't wait to try this and see if the likes them this way! Thanks so much and Happy New Year!

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  4. This looks AMAZING! I just got a crockpot for Christmas and then found your blog through Parents magazine! I am so excited to try your recipes!

    Happy New Year!

    xox
    Britt

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  5. I have made this soup several times and I ADORE it. I did however add more black eyed peas and also i put in some white beans...and it turned out really good. I also bought fresh uncooked ground sausage and let it cook over the hours and it infused the soup with an incredible flavor. Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes. I used them tons this last year and about 2 months ago I finally purchased your fantastic cook book. which is so nice so then i don't have to do a blog search for my favorite recipes. =)

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  6. This soup and collard risotto will have you set for the New Year! Happy New Year!

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  7. I did not know whole foods had GF pie crust. I am going to have to try those now that I am eating GF. I hope you have the baby soon. Those last few weeks and days can be so long.

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  8. Happy New Year! I'm thinking of you and sending you new baby vibes.

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  9. Happy New Year to you and yours, Steph!

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  10. Anonymous12/31/2009

    Just found your blog yesterday- what a great site! I got a new crockpot for a wedding present back in August and have yet to use it. Looking forward to trying lots of your recipes!

    Good luck on your delivery!

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  11. Anonymous12/31/2009

    I'm not a fan of black-eyed peas, but my husband is! He's digging this recipe!

    Happy New Year, Steph!

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  12. Anonymous12/31/2009

    If you like blackeye peas you will absolutely love purple hull peas. Cooked correctly their broth is as good as gravy so you have to serve them over mashed potatoes. Just a thought.
    Best wishes for the New Year and an easy delivery.

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  13. Aw Stephanie-that last week of pregnancy is always about a decade long isn't it?

    COME OUT LITTLE GIRL!!! Your momma wants to smooch your sweet fuzzy little noggin! And just WAIT until you're old enough to eat real food, you are going to be SO happy!

    Happy New Year!

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  14. Anonymous1/01/2010

    Happy New Year! I haven't been by in awhile and am so happy to see you doing so well. God Bless you and your sweet family.

    I'm a big believer in black eyed peas for New Year's. I figure we can use all the help we can get. LOL. I soaked mine over night, but hadn't thought about putting them in the crockpot. It's still early enough I may just go ahead and do that. LOL.

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  15. Longtime lurker, infrequent commenter. I just wanted to tell you I'm sending easy/quick labor vibes to you. Perhaps your third just really wants to be a 2010 baby?

    Happy New Year!

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  16. I'm making this today!

    I hope everything is going great with you, just wanted to say Happy New Year.

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  17. Giving you energy for the labor and joy for the New Year! Thank you for your gift to us of crockpot recipes and the format to follow through.

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  18. I was wondering what was going on with the baby (or not going on). Maybe you'll have your little one on my son's birthday ... tomorrow. He was due on Christmas Eve. ;-) Whenever she comes, I'm hoping all will go easily, dear.

    Still love the idea of this black-eyed pea soup, but haven't made it yet. Must do that soon.

    Hugs and Happy New Year! Oh, and I am sooooo happy about your book being on the NYT bestseller list. You must be over the moon on that note! So cool! Well deserved, too. :-)

    Shirley

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  19. I was VERY nervous about trying this - not so much my 3 5-year-olds, but my picky self!! Loved it - thanks!!!

    Kara

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  20. peavenson1/02/2010

    Made this yesterday for "good luck" and added one sweet potato and some collard greens (because I had them) and my husband declared it a keeper. I think black eyed peas will be in my house more.
    Thanks and good luck with that new little one whenever she decides to come :)

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  21. I made this yesterday and it was a huge hit. I changed a few things due to ingredients I had already. I changed the celery to a chopped poblano pepper and exchanged some Mexican seasoning for the Italian seasoning. I also used andouille sausage and added 4 slices of bacon. My son absolutely LOVED it! I figured I would be the only one eating it but this recipe is definitely a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  22. hey there, this was awesome! We just had it and I'm excited about the leftovers. Also, my husband complimented me that it was perfectly seasoned, and that's really your doing, not mine, since I just followed your recipe. Good job, great soup!

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  23. We made this on NY Day and we all loved it! Even the 2 year old! It's delicious, and we'll make it again way before next year. Thanks for all the hits!

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  24. yummm! made this soup yesterday, so delicious! thanks for the recipe!

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  25. I made this for 2009 NYE and it was fantastic! Didn't change a thing. Even the kids ate it.

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  26. Some people consider black-eyes pea as a lucky food for the new year! There is nothing wrong in believing! But what I can say is, black-eyed soup is one delicious dish for everyone!

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  27. sounds real good i will have to try it

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  28. With three kids, you will NEED to learn patience. Take my advice....assign #1 child to be responsible for your purse when you leave the house with all 3 kids. Ask me how I know!!!!

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  29. I received your cookbook as a Christmas gift and this was the very first recipe that I made. Talk about a huge success. All of my four children (ages 9, 7, 4 and 3) ate it up and asked for seconds. Since then I have made three other recipes and they too have been met with the same response. Can't wait to make more mouthwatering meals! Happy New Year!

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  30. lol ~ I remember being quite peeved when my 2nd was early like my 1st! Hoping all is well and perhaps you are enjoying that newborn babe right this moment. I'm new to your blog but look forward to some great recipes!

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  31. Happy New Year! Now I'm not a fan of black-eyed peas but your soup looks really good. I think I'll actually give this one a try. Just don't tell my MIL.

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  32. This soup sounds amazing! I too love my slow cooker, but I don't know if I have what it takes to use it every day. :)

    Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I will absolutely be grabbing a copy of your book and drooling over your amazing recipes. Happy New year and best of luck with your upcoming new addition!

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  33. We made this and it was soooo good! Thanks for the recipe!

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  34. Please disregard the part of my previous comment where I got confused and realized that you did not visit my blog, but somebody who did emailed me nothing but a link to your blog. Sorry!

    In any case, I'm glad they did and your book is now on its way to me. :)

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  35. I hope you're absent from the blog because you're busy snuggling a wee new baby! Wishing you and your family all the best in the new year!

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  36. Made this soup last night. AMAZING! I used a ham bone leftover from Christmas dinner instead of sausage. By the time it was done, all the ham had fallen off the bone and it was just delectable. Used veggie stock because it's all I had and omitted celery. Hate the stuff and didn't miss it! Made some corn muffins too. Thanks!!! And congrats on the new addition. Would love to see some pics :)

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  37. My BF makes something similar to this but mixes it with rice... he says the (insert minority race prominent in Miami, because I can't remember) make it all the time. And I can see why, it's DELICIOUS! Except we add a ton of hot sauce on top... :)

    We make them with any kind of bean, but black beans and black eyed peas are best, and the rice has to be spiced/mexican/spanish/yellow.

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  38. I have this in the crock pot right now. It smells amazing! I have never had black eyed peas before but I have tried several recipes off of your site and haven't been disappointed! :)

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  39. This is the Bomb diggity. I love this recipe. Thanks. I would love it if anyone has the calorie count on this.

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  40. Anonymous1/13/2010

    I just made this soup today for the first time. AWESOME! Sitting at my computer eating it at work today and thinking about how good it is. my "good recipes" links are more and more of yours every day!

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  41. Happy New Year, Good idea!

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  42. I love this! I am a black eyed pea fiend, and will be adding collard greens!

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  43. I just found this and will keep the recipe to ring in 2011 next Jan1(I think you meant to "ring in 2010" in your post:) I hope all is well with the new baby.

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  44. Anonymous2/02/2010

    I'd like to go on record as saying that I hate black-eyed peas, don't even like the smell of them cooking BUT I love this soup. We added a little liquid smoke and it was perfect!

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  45. Made this one and it was a huge hit! I ended up using veal breakfast sausage links in the same quantity. Ans it freezes so well, I was beside myself with delight!

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  46. I am seeing this too late! Argh! I grew up eating black eyed peas on NYE but never liking them, and have discontinued the tradition as an adult but always felt a little sad about it. Can't wait to try this for....NYE 2011!!

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  47. I've been making this soup for years ... since at least 2010. Thank you for wonderfully easy recipes! I tossed this into my IP and can't wait to eat!

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