Recipe: Jalapeno Blackeyed Peas/Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Hayes: Have I got a recipe for you. This recipe has won a blue ribbon at the
Athens, TX Black-eyed Pea Festival plus at least 20 other blues in cooking
contests. Plus it was published in Souther Living.

Jalapena Blackeyed Peas

60 Ounces of frozen blackeyed peas (dry peas will much)
1 pound bacon fried crisp & chopped
1 cup chopped green onions
1 cup cubed ham
1 large chopped (finely) Jalapena
3/4 package of onion soup mix
3 cloves chopped garlic
salt and pepper

Place black-eyes peas in a large saucepan and cover with water. As the
peas are frozen, allow additional time for thawing and coming to a simmer.
Then let the peas simmer for approximately one hour.
Add the additional ingredients and simmer for another 45 minutes to an
hour or until the peas and all ingredients are cooked to satisfaction.
The bacon and ham are salty, so now add salt and pepper to taste,
going light on the salt. If additional pepper is needed, use only red or white
pepper.
Marinate for twenty-four hours, then re-heat and serve. Makes 12 servings.

ALSO: you haven't asked for this, but its great also. Both of these recipes
are excellent for men to prepare. This red beans and rice recipe has won no
blue ribbons but that's only because there are no cooking contests to enter.

CAJUN RED BEANS AND RICE

1 pound of red kidney beans
1 meaty ham bone
2 large onions, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large jalapena, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
1 bay leaf
2 pounds of Owens Spicy Sausage
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Rice-cooked separately and served with the beans

Soak beans overnight. Rinse. Cover with water and cook with the ham
bone (fat trimmed off), onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, jalapena, sugar and bay leaf. While beans are cooking, boil sausage in skillet. Drain, fry until crisp, and set aside. Cook beans until fork tender; then add fried
sausage. Just before serving, remove bay leaf and add parsley. Freezes.
Serves 30 Yankees or 8 Cajuns.