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Happy New Year!

Black-eyed peas are eaten on New Year's day to bring you good luck and prosperity. I made this Hoppin' John recipe last year on the first day of 2009 and let me tell you--
2009 was a GREAT year, so I did
it again this year because 2010 is going to be even better.

No one is really sure how the Hoppin' John recipe came to be named, but there are several theories: One is the custom of inviting guests to eat at the dinner table with the phrase, Hop
in, John. Another is from a ritual on New Year's Day in which children hop around the table once before eating the black-eyed peas. Eating greens, especially collard greens, with this dish will enhance the flow of good fortune to you since green is the color
of money.

To learn more than you ever wanted to know about black-eyed peas, read this Wiki article. Whatever the origin of the recipe is, black-eyed peas are really delicious and can be made in a variety of ways. They can be served as a side dish, a soup or stew, in a salad, or made into a salsa. Many recipes include bacon, ham, or sausage, along with rice. My quick and easy version of Hoppin' John that I'm starting the New Year off with is Hoppin' John Kickin' Chili.

• 6 slices turkey bacon, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 3 - 4 T. chili powder (to taste)
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can Mexican style diced tomatoes
• 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles, with juice
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can collard greens, with juice
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 T. ground cumin
• 1/2 cup water, more or less, depending on how thick or thin you want your chili to be
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Garnishes: A handful of sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded, a dollop of sour cream, and some sliced green onions

Heat a 12-inch, deep chef's saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and onion. Saute until the bacon is crisp and the onions have softened. Add the garlic and saute for one more minute. Remove and set aside.

Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until done, seasoning
with chili powder to taste while the beef is cooking.

Add the tomatoes, chiles, collard greens, and black-eyed peas.
Stir to mix, then return the bacon mixture to the pan, sprinkle
with cumin, and stir again.

Add the water. (I put a little bit of water inside the cans and swirl
it around to get all the remaining goodies out of the can.) Bring to
a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 30 minutes. Take
a taste and season to your liking with salt and pepper. Stir it one
more time, just for good luck, and also to distribute the salt and pepper.

Ladle into a bowl and top with Cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

Hope your Happy Hoppin' John New Year will be really wonderful. :)