Blackeyed peas

Eastside Road, January 2, 2010—

YES, WE'RE A DAY late. You're supposed to eat blackeyed peas on New Year's Day, for luck the rest of the year. We used to have Hopping John, apparently the really authentic good-luck dish for the day, but I think simple blackeyed peas, without the ham hocks, are close enough. At least I hope so, and I hope the day's tardiness will be excused. We could all really use some good luck this next year, don't you think?
Lindsey soaked the dried peas, cooked them in water, then added a soffritto of small-chopped onion in olive oil and some juice from Thursday night's roast pork, a cold slice of which lay alongside on the plate. Green salad, of course.

Mourvedre, Louis Preston, 2007