Recipe of the Month: Black Eye Pea Stew

 We've made this three times during this past winter and taken to a party once and it received acclaim! Not
much to the recipe, just some good old comfort food on a cold winter's day! Sorry, no seafood in it...

Ingredients:

1   lb dried Black Eye Peas                                                                            2    32oz  boxes chicken stock                                                                  2-3 stalks celery, chopped                                                                          1  medium onion, chopped                                                                           1   lb bag frozen collard greens                                                                    1   lb ground or link smoked sausage                                                                  Creole seasoning                                                                     

Soak a 1lb bag of Black Eye peas - pour in a bowl, cover with water and soak overnight in the fridge.

The next day, drain and rinse the peas and put in a pot.

Cover with about one and half box of chicken stock, bring to a boil, cover and let simmer for 1 1/2 hours

At about one hour take a potato masher or mallet and "smash" up some of the Black Eye Peas

Add bag of  Collards to pot

In a cast iron skillet brown the sausage, add to pot.

Brown the celery and onion, season with Creole seasoning, add to pot 

Season as needed again with Creole seasoning. Add Chicken stock to cover. Simmer covered for another 30 minutes.