Go to GALLEY GOSSIP: HAPPY NEW YEAR! to find out why I always bid to work on New Year’s Eve, and why I’ve actually got the day off today. There you’ll find a photo gallery of one of my last flights in 2008, a trip from New York to San Francisco. Then come back here and get to work on this…

A staple in the Southern diet for over 300 years, black-eyed peas have long been associated with good luck. A dish of peas is a New Year’s tradition in most areas of the South, thought to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. According to Jessica Harris, author of “Welcome Table,” some add a dime to the peas for an extra “boost” of luck to the recipient. Personally, I’d leave the dime out. Hey, that’s just me.

Ingredients:
1lb black eyed peas

4 links Italian hot sausage

3 strips Bacon (not the healthy kind)

1 (150z) can of diced tomatoes

4-5 stalks of celery

1 or 2 tomatos

1 green pepper

1 large yellow onion

6 cloves garlic

3-4 jalapenos (seeded)

bunch of parsley

bunch of cilantro

dash red pepper flakes

dash chili powder

salt and pepper

water

Soak black eyed peas in water over night. Drain water. In a large pot, add more water – enough to cover the peas by two inches, and bring to boil. In a skillet, brown sausage (without casings) and bacon. Chop celery, onion, tomato, jalapeno, green pepper, a handful of parsley and cilantro and add all ingredients to the boiling pot. Simmer with lid on for 3-4 hours – maybe longer – until peas are mushy. Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. This is a very hearty dish. Serve with corn bread. Enjoy.