Hoppin' John Soup

We are pretty traditional here in the Mr. and Mrs. L household. New Years Eve must consist of champagne, a kiss at midnight and now the eating of 12 grapes in the first minute of the new year (note to self...try finding smaller grapes next year. Trying to stuff twelve giant green grapes in your mouth and finish eating them in one minute is not the easiest thing to do, especially when you are laughing hysterically and just had half a bottle of champagne). New Years day is just as traditional with our custom of eating black eyed peas at some point on the first. Though I have made other Hoppin' John recipes in the past, this year I just wanted to throw something together using ingredients we had on hand.

This came out pretty good. Didn't take long to make, heated up well the next day and was made with ingredients we had on hand (and I specifically wanted to use up the ham bone and some leftover ham). It's an easy recipe to tweak...the addition of rice or pasta, red chilies or some sort of hot sauce, additional vegetables, would all work well. A good way to start off the new year.

HOPPIN' JOHN SOUP

1 large onion chopped
1 16-oz. package frozen black eyed peas
2 bay leafs
1 tablespoon jarred minced garlic
1 bunch kale, trimmed and chopped
8 to 10 cups beef broth
1 cup leftover Honeybaked Ham, chopped into pieces
1 leftover Honeybaked Ham bone
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat oil in a big pot over medium high heat. Add onions and cook for about five minutes until soft. Add bay leafs and garlic and cook for another minute. Add black eyed peas, kale , ham, ham bone and beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Note: Ingredient measurements are just a guideline. Add more ham, don't put a bone in, one bay leaf instead of two, add more veggies etc.

Note: I "trimmed" the kale by cutting out the big thick center. Not sure if this was necessary.

Note: You will notice some "fatty" pieces of ham that came off the bone. We like pork fat. No it doesn't fit in with a healthy eating plan. Did I mention we like pork fat? Deal. And yes there is jarred garlic in this, I didn't have any fresh on hand.

Note: Since Honeybaked Ham tends to be a bit salty along with the beef broth I used, I didn't add any additional salt during the cooking. I would definitely add salt otherwise.

Note: Cooking time had more to do with making the kale tender than anything else. 

Note: We wanted a bit more "soup" so we added more beef broth. Your millage may very.

Comments

[noble pig]

Yeah you did the grapes and I love this soup!

[Mom]

That soup looks so good. Am I going to get a taste. And I guess I am getting out of touch. What is with the grapes? I did not make my clam chowder this year.

[foodhoe]

your new years celebration sounds splendid, I love it! I was talking to someone from the south, who advised me to eat black eyed peas and turnip greens on new years. Well, I wasn't able to incorporate those good luck foods into my feast this year, but maybe next year. That soup looks great.

[Carolyn Jung]

A big ol' ham bone makes the best soup, doesn't it? Just adds such glorious flavor. I throw mine into my pot of homemade rice porridge very winter following Christmas dinner. Yum!

[Anxiety And Depression]

I love soups...especially for breakfast.. I love to eat soups..

[Mrs. L]

Noble - Grapes is a new tradition for us but we have fun with it.

Mom - We kinda ate all the soup. It fed us through the holiday weekend! Grapes is a Spanish tradition to bring good luck in the new year. Maybe we'll have to make some clam chowder soon.

Foodhoe - I'm not southern but I've been following the black eyed peas and greens tradition for years. During the economy, everything helps right?

Carolyn - I'm ashamed to admit, this is on the second year we've used the ham bone in something. Normally we've just thrown it out! Bad, I know.

Anxiety - Soups? For breakfast? May have to try that sometime.

[Soup recipes]

I love Soup...ur soup is so colorfull....
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