New Years Lucky Pasta With Blackeye Peas Food

NEW YEAR'S "GOOD LUCK" PASTA FAZOOL

Steps:

• Place a cold soup pot over medium heat. Add sliced bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the fat has rendered out and the bacon begins to crisp up, about 5 minutes. Drain off most of the excess fat with a paper towel if desired, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pot. Add onions, celery, and salt. Saute until and softened onions turn translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir in black pepper, cayenne, dried thyme, dried oregano, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste starts to caramelize onto the bottom of the pan, about 2 minutes. Add the minced garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 more minutes. Stir in chicken broth and water and raise the heat to high. Bring to a simmer over high heat; reduce heat to medium and let simmer while you prep the Swiss chard.
• Remove chard leaves from tough stems. Gather a handful of leaves and slice across in one direction; turn and slice across again. Repeat with remaining chard. Place into a bowl and fill with water. Swish around to remove dirt; transfer washed greens a handful at a time to another bowl to drain.
• Stir the Swiss chard into the pot and simmer over medium heat until greens become tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.
• Stir in the drained beans and raise the heat to high; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Once the pasta is tender, check the seasoning. Serve immediately in large bowls. Garnish with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and red pepper flakes.

LUCKY BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Saute chopped onions in oil in a 3-quart sauce- or soup-pot; set aside.
• Sort peas carefully to remove stones and dirt, rinse well. Dump peas in pot with onion; add half the garlic cloves and the ham hocks, bay leaves, chopped parsley, cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce and black pepper.
• Cover with water; cook on high until just boiling, and turn down heat to low, to simmer. Add HOT water as necessary to keep peas covered. Stir occasionally.
• Cut smoked sausage into 3/4-inch slices, then cut slices in quarters. After peas have simmered for about 1-1/2 hours, remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Add sausage and remaining garlic. (It is not necessary to cut up garlic. It'll fall apart -- and your fingers won't smell for days.) When ham hocks have cooled enough to handle, remove skin and discard. Remove meat from bones and gristle from meat. Shred meat and return to pot. Return large bones to pot. Cook on low for another hour or until peas melt in your mouth, keeping them covered with water and stirring as needed to prevent sticking. Peas should be like a bean soup with plenty of liquid, or you can smash up a few peas to create a smooth, thick consistence.
• Carefully, salt to taste. Remove bay leaves and bones. Serve with a dash of vinegar (malt, if possible) and steamed white rice (to cool the palate -- optional). Makes 30 1/2-cup servings. Recipe may be halved. Do not freeze leftovers.

NEW YEAR'S LUCKY PASTA WITH BLACKEYE PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions.
• Saute the onions and garlic over med. heat until soft about 4 minutes.
• Add the zucchini, salt and pepper and continue to saute until slightly brown.
• Add the Ham and blackeye peas (including the liquid) and cook until it starts to simmer.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and toss with the blackeye pea mixture.
• Taste and correct seasonings if needed.
• Serve in bowls and top with grated cheese.