The 2012 is upon us.  The 1st meal of this year  should be Black Eye Peas  Soup which symbolizes  Good Luck in the New Year.   I enjoy making this soup is super easy and if  left to sit a day, the flavors meld into fulfilling meal on New Years Day.   My Black Eyed Pea soup is  lovely fresh veggies, and smoke flavor.  Red Pack tomatoes which I prefer are lovely compliment to this soup pack in there own juices.   This soup low in calories and a healthy soup which make it a great soup to start the new year. Resolutions and all..

• 2 cups of dried Black Eyed Peas
• 2 carrots diced
• 2 stalks of celery diced
• 1 onion diced
• 1 can of Red Pack Petite  Diced Tomatoes
• 1 tps salt (added as needed)
• 1 tps thyme,
• 2 cloves garlic Minced
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 8-10 cups of low sodium chicken broth (an additional 4 cups needed if you want to stretch)
• Optional :spicy sausage to add flavor

1. Bean cooked on low in slow cooker for 2  hours covered in 4-5 cups of broth
2. When black eyed peas are firm /rehydrate but not to cooked add other ingredients
3. add smoked turkey leg, spices, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, RedPack Tomatoes and  remaining broth
4. Cook for 5 hours (now add sausage) break up the turkey leg
5. Cook for another 4-5 hours.  Remove bones from turkey leg.
6. You can eat now but if you make a day ahead add more both 2-4 cups let sit overnight.. this soup gets better the longer it sits.

You can also omit the turkey leg (sausage), add ½ tbls cumin and make a vegetarian version

 

Want to print this recipe out Black Eye Peas Soup

Disclosure:  I received the RedPack tomatoes free of charge but all the opinions in this post are mine.