Thank you for making 2017 great

Here are a few recipes that might help you with you New Year’s meal. Enjoy, and I’ll be seeing you around in 2018. -Agnes

Black Eyed Peas

1 bag (16 ounces) dry black-eyed peas

5 cups water

1 salt cured ham hock or 1/4 pound salt pork

1 fresh jalapeno pepper

1 medium onion, cut in wedges

Salt and pepper to taste

Clean and wash peas. Place in a large, heavy pot. Cover in water at least 2 inches over peas. Soak overnight. Drain. Add 5 cups water and rest of ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer and cook until tender. Remove pepper pod. To serve, garnish sliced jalapeno pepper and sliced onions, if desired. Corn Bread is a must with this dish. It will easily feed 10 people.

Black-Eye Pea Salsa (My children and grandchildren love this.)

2 cans black-eye peas (the dry peas that have been soaked, cooked and canned)

1 rib celery, small chopped

1 small bell pepper, small chopped

2 to 3 large tomatoes, small chopped.

1 small sweet onion, small chopped

2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice

1 small jar salsa, the heat taste you desire

Salt and pepper to taste

Few dashes hot sauce

Open peas, pour in colander drain and gently wash. Set aside to drain. Prepare vegetables and gently mix all in a large bowl, adding the salsa last. Taste and add more lemon juice and salt, if needed. Cover and let sit at room temperature a short time before serving. Serve with fried corn cakes or corn chips. Keeps well in refrigerator.

Turnips, Mustard, Collards, Kale and other such greens

Prepare by washing several times, de-stemming and chop, if desired. Young tender greens do not need to be de-stemmed or parboiled. However, the older greens are better if you do both. To parboil, put in boiling, salted water. Cover, bring to boil, turn off heat, let set for 15 minutes and drain. Put back in pot and add boiling water* to just cover and 3 tablespoons butter, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook until tender.

*Note: If you want to use seasoning meat, cook meat in water until tender and add both water and meat to the greens and cook.

Back Bone and Turnips Roots

2 pounds pork backbone

1 1/2 quarts diced turnips

2 cups water

1 cup chopped onions

3 tablespoons oil

Salt, black and cayenne peppers, to taste

In a heavy pot, heat oil and lightly sear backbone that has been seasoned with salt and pepper. Add onion, cover and cook over low heat until meat is tender. Remove backbone from pot and add turnips roots and more water if necessary. Simmer until roots are done. Serve with cooked greens, backbone and cornbread.

Apple Casserole

7 Rome apples (peeled and sliced)

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 pound Velveeta cheese

3/4 cup self-rising flour

Use butter wrapper to grease a 9×5 dish. Place apples in dish. Melt butter and cheese together and beat in sugar and flour. Spread over apples and bake for 45 minutes.

Corn Pudding (This is great for a covered dish.)

2 cups fresh or frozen creamed style field corn

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

5 beaten eggs

2 cups milk

1/2 stick butter

Mix corn, sugar, salt and flour. Add beaten eggs and milk and mix well. Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Dot with butter on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.

Recipe for laughter: With the talk about gun control, I was asked to share this again. Enjoy.

ACTS 2:38 Conceal Carry & an intruder. A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’ (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: ‘Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.’ ‘Scripture?’ replied the burglar. ‘She said she had an Ax and Two 38’s!’ Remember to study your Bible, because knowing Scripture can save your life — in more ways than one. (I love compassionate Christian Seniors. -Agnes)

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