AwShit Black-eyed Peas

Whether you're ringing in the New Year with a traditional cup of black-eyed peas or looking for a perfect side dish to go with your favorite comfort food, these are sure to impress!

Ingredients

* 1 lb dried black-eyed peas (you can use fresh or canned instead, if you want)
* 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
* 6 oz. pork shoulder, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
* 4 strips thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
* 1 medium onion, finely diced
* 4 garlic cloves, sliced
* 1 tsp salt
* 3 tsp AwShit
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* 4 cups chicken stock
* 2 cups water
* 3 bay leaves

Preparation

If using dried black-eyed peas, put them in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the peas overnight, then drain the water and rinse. Alternatively, you can "quick-soak" the peas by bringing them and the water to a boil for 2 minutes. After this, remove them from the heat, cover the pot and soak the peas for 1 hour. Then, drain and rinse the peas.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork. Sear until the pork is browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the salt, AwShit, and garlic powder. Cook until the entire mixture is coated with the spices, about 2 minutes. Pour in the stock and water and drop in the bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.

Using the back of a spoon, smash some of the peas against the inside of the pot then stir them into the mixture. This will break up some of the peas and give them a creamier consistency. Alternatively, you can puree 1 cup of the peas and broth in a blender or a food processor, then return the puree to the pot.

Taste for seasonings, and add some hot-pepper vinegar, if desired. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the black-eyed peas to a serving bowl.