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Black-eyed Peas are delicious! Good luck for the New Year!

January 5, 2025 by Becky Spoon

Good Luck Blackeyed PeasJump to Recipe
Blackeyed-peas
Black-eyed-peas

Black-eyed Peas on New Year’s Day is a longstanding southern tradition. I have done this even if it’s just a tiny amount my entire life. I actually love them!

Do you know why it’s good luck to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day? As with most superstitions, there are several answers to the question.

Most Southerners will tell you that this culinary custom dates back to the Civil War. Black-eyed peas were considered animal food. The peas were not deemed worthy of serving to General Sherman’s Union troops. When Union soldiers raided the Confederates’ food supplies, legend says they took everything except the peas and salted pork. The Confederates considered themselves lucky to be left with those meager supplies, and survived the winter. Peas then became symbolic of luck.

“According to historian and food scholar Adrian Miller, black-eyed peas represent coins, collard greens represent paper money and cornbread represents gold,” the Food Network states. “Some say you’ll have the best chance at luck if you eat exactly 365 peas, one for each day of the year.”

What do you need for these Black-eyed peas?

I don’t necessarily think this pea has a lot of flavor alone, so I cook mine with chicken stock and added water as they cook. I add salt pork, ham hock or bacon or like n this case smoked sausage. I add chopped onions and peppers and I finish with sliced jalapeno at the last 15 minutes of cooking sometimes!

Although this is considered a side dish; however this dish is a little like a soup and is great without anything else but a piece of Southern Cornbread.

Here’s the ingredients for this recipe:

  • Olive Oil
  • Yellow Onion
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Fresh Garlic
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Chicken Stock
  • Fresh thyme
  • Collard Greens
  • Fire roasted diced tomatoes (optional)
  • Dried black-eyed peas
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper
Black-eyed Peas and Greens
Black-eyed Peas and Greens

I love these bowls I served the peas in. I actually bought them off amazon because I was looking for a black and white soup or salad bowl for a tablescape. You really can’t see the sides of the bowls from this angle. Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/3Pnfv47

I love the black plates that they are sitting on also. Here’s the link for them: https://amzn.to/3W7Jxg7

What to serve with this dish?

Black-eyed Peas and Greens
Black-eyed Peas and Greens

You have to have cornbread with the peas and greens! Here’s one of my great recipes for cornbread! 1 of My Favorites, Easy – Basic Cornbread Recipe with Bacon

Basic Cornbread with Bacon
Basic Cornbread with Bacon

Hope you enjoy my recipe!

Blackeyed-peas

Black-eyed Peas with Greens and Smoked Sausage

Black-eyed Peas on New Year's Day is a longstanding southern tradition. I have done this even if it's just a tiny amount my entire life. I actually love them!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Yellow Onion, chopped
  • 1 cup Carrots, Chopped
  • 1/2 cup Celery, Chopped
  • 1/2 cup Red bell pepper, Green bell pepper, Yellow or combination
  • 2 large Garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • 4 Oz Salt pork bacon, ham hock or smoked sausage
  • 6 Cups chicken stock
  • 3 Fresh Thyme sprigs
  • 2 lb. dried black eyed peas (soaked overnight if you like) or 1 lb. frozen (I used frozen this time)
  • 2 cups Roughly chopped collard or mustard greens
  • 1 can Fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained (optional)
  • Additional water as the peas cook
  • 2 Tbsps. red wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • jalapeno, sliced if desired

Method
 

  1. In a medium size pot, add olive oil and heat to medium low. Add onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers and celery; cook, stirring often until all vegetables are softened. Add your garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook for a second and add the chicken stock, thyme, greens, tomatoes, your meat of choice and your black-eyed peas.
  2. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, adding water or more chicken stock as needed.
  3. Cook until your peas are tender. If you are using ham hock, you may want to remove it and shred the meat and add it back to the beans.
  4. Serve as a side dish or as a complete meal with Southern Corn Bread.
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Filed Under: Vegetables Tagged With: good luck blackeyed peas, luck, newyears

easy – must have classic green bean casserole with a twist.

November 17, 2023 by Becky Spoon

Jump to Recipe

Green Bean Casserole

This Classic Green Bean casserole with a twist on the classic! What’s the twist? Homemade onion rings that are light, crunchy and delicious. I hope they make it to the top of the casserole, because they are that good!

Here’s the link for the onion rings: https://the2spoons.com/yay-easy-homemade-onion-rings/.

Homemade Onion Rings
Homemade Onion Rings

I read an article that stated one of the least liked dishes at Thanksgiving is this recipe! That has to be inaccurate because everyone wants Green Bean Casserole on their Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without this classic casserole!

Classic Green Bean Casserole with a Twist

The original Casserole is on the French’s Onion Rings container. This is the recipe everyone has made most of my life time. I will tell you that the French’s recipe does not have salt, so I do add 1/2 teaspoon salt and I add a half teaspoon black pepper which I believe is a little more than on the French’s recipe. Here’s a link for the original recipe which I will include later: https://www.mccormick.com/frenchs/recipes/salads-sides/frenchs-green-bean-casserole.

Want a lighter green bean dish? Try these

Perfect Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon in Browned Butter

Green Beans
Perfect Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon in Browned Butter

Classic Green Bean Casserole with a Twist!

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Servings: 6 servings
Course: easy side dish, easy side dish, vegetable
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 10 1/2 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper *different than original
  • 1/2 tsp salt *different than original
  • 2 14.5 oz cans any style Del Monte Green Beans, Drained
  • 1 1/3 + cups French's Crispy Fried Onions, Original, Divided or The 2 Spoons Homemade Onion Rings (http://thespoons.com/yay-easy-homemade-onion-rings/)
  • butter for the dish *different than the original

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Mix soup, milk, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup Crispy Fried Onions or (http://thespoons.com/yay-easy-homemade-onion-rings/) .
  2. Bake 30 minutes or until hot. Stir.
  3. Top with remaining 2/3 cup onions. Bake 5 minutes until onions are golden brown.
Green Bean Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Homemade Onion Rings
Homemade Onion Rings
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Filed Under: Vegetables Tagged With: classic green bean casserole, green bean cassserole, Green beans, side dish, thanksgiving, vegetables

love these duchess baked potatoes.

November 19, 2021 by Becky Spoon

If you’ve ever asked if mashed potatoes can be cooked ahead, the answer is this recipe. The texture is like that of a twice-baked potato.

Sometimes you want a potato dish a little more special and these Duchess Baked Potatoes are just that.

Duchess Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes

This dish would be a great alternative to standard mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving and perfect for your Christmas prime rib.

love these duchess baked potatoes.

This recipe is decadent with garlic, heavy cream, rich egg yolks and Yukon gold potatoes.

Duchess Potatoes

Lighter than a twice baked potato, I think these are a perfect side dish for any entree.

Want another potato recipe? Try my buttery mashed potatoes! They are delicious: delicious buttery mashed potatoes!!

Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes

Duchess Baked Potatoes

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Servings: 8 Servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, holiday
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 Medium Youkon Gold Potatoes 3 1/2 -4 pounds)
  • Kosher salt
  • 5 Large egg yolks
  • 2 Garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 1 1/4 Cups Heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 10 Tbsp Unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 Tsp pink or black peppercorns, finely ground

Method
 

  1. Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in water to cover by 2”; season with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until a paring knife very easily slides through potatoes, 25-36 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. 
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk egg yolks, garlic, cream, sour cream, butter, and peppercorns in a large bowl. Season generously with salt. 
  2. Peal Potatoes. 
  3. Pass peeled potatoes through a ricer or a food mill (or mash them by hand if you don’t mind a few lumps). 
  4. Shred them right into the bowl with the egg mixture. Fold in gently being careful not to overmix. Transfer to a 3 quart baking dish and decoratively shingle or swirl the surface. Bake, rotating once, until golden brown and slightly puffed, 30 or 40 minutes. 

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Filed Under: Vegetables Tagged With: casserole, potatoes, sidedish

You’ll love this Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole!

November 18, 2021 by Becky Spoon

Sweet Potato CasseroleJump to Recipe


Who doesn’t love a sweet potato casserole for the holiday meal, especially Thanksgiving?

This is my sisters recipe and my Mom loved it.  We always had a sweet potato dish for Thanksgiving, sometimes with marshmallows, sometimes candied but this one topped with a brown sugar mixture and pecans make it extra special.  Thank you for the recipe sister Jackie!

Simply Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe has the following ingredients:

  • sweet potatoes
  • sugar
  • butter
  • eggs
  • vanilla
  • cup milk

For the topping:

  • butter
  • light brown sugar
  • flour
  • pecans

How can you go wrong with such delicious ingredients? I added some pomegranate to the top for color.

Serve this as a side dish to this beautiful Turkey!

Beautiful Dry Brined Spiced Roast Turkey



Simply Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole

Here’s the recipe for this delicious casserole! Follow “the 2 spoons” for so many more delicious recipes!

Sweet Potato Casserole

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups sweet potatoes boiled and mashed up about 5 large sweet potatoes
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup milk
For the Topping
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350.  
    Mix cooked and mashed sweet potatoes with next five ingredients , the sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and milk.  Put mixture in a buttered 9×13 casserole dish.  
    Mix the melted butter, light brown sugar, flour and pecans and sprinkle on the top.  
    Bake for about 25 minutes.  Casserole will be puffed and begin to brown on top!  Delicious! 
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Filed Under: Vegetables, Side dish Tagged With: delicious, easy, hanksgiving, holidays, sidedish, thanksgiving food, vegetables

delicious buttery mashed potatoes!!

November 14, 2021 by Becky Spoon

Buttery Mashed PotatoesJump to Recipe
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Honestly? How can you have Turkey and dressing and gravy without mashed potatoes? Our favorite way for Thanksgiving is just simple and loaded with butter.  Yes, there is a lot of butter, but this is Thanksgiving and a special occasion calls for special side dishes.  These are so delicious and so easy. 

Everyone ask, what potatoes should I use? The answer is the Russet Potato. They are starchy, not waxy, they are dry and mealy, perfect for mashing. A great alternative is Yukon Gold Potato.

Another question is, what’s the best way to mash them? I use a potato ricer. You can also use a hand masher or a food mill if you have one. This is the kind I have: https://amzn.to/2YMBAmb. They are the best!

Delicious Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Here’s another mashed potato recipe I love! It has fried shallots on top! Yes! So delicious and a great presentation. Popular – Creamy and Buttery Mashed Potatoes with Fried Shallots

Mashed Potatoes
Creamy and Buttery Mashed Potatoes with Fried Shallots

Serve these with my perfect Turkey and Dressing!https://the2spoons.com/the-best-southern-cornbread-dressing/ and https://the2spoons.com/beautiful-dry-brined-spiced-roast-turkey/. Best dressing and turkey recipe!

Hope you like this recipe!

Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 or 5 lbs Russet potatoes
  • 1-2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 1/2 stick unsalted butter, sliced
  • 1/2 to 2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
  • 2 tbsp melted butter for pouring over the finished mashed potatoes
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

  1. Dice potatoes and cook  in a pan of salted water until very tender, about 20 minutes, checking near the end with a fork for doneness.  Try to have uniform pieces to allow even cooking.  When done drain well in a colander.  Rice the potatoes back into the pan, put them through a food mill or mash your favorite way. Add the butter and salt and pepper and stir.  Check one more time for the seasoning.  
    Add the potatoes to a serving bowl, pour the melted butter and add chopped parsley.  

Notes

If you are not serving the mashed potatoes soon, you can keep them warm over a pan of simmering water. Add the parsley at the last minute along with the final melted butter if you do this.
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Dry Brined Spiced Roast Turkey
Dry Brined Spiced Roast Turkey
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Filed Under: Vegetables, Side dish Tagged With: buttery mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, side dish, thanksgiving, thanksgiving food

these are delicious creamed new potatoes.

August 7, 2021 by Becky Spoon

Creamed New Potatoes
Creamed New Potatoes

These creamed new potatoes are definitely a memory from the past! Mom always made these but she used the new potatoes that were canned. Remember those? We still have them and they’re good but I always have new potatoes in the pantry.

There are so many entrees that these would be delicious with; I made them a a side for my Stuffed Peppers. Whether it’s a meatloaf or the stuffed peppers, pork chops, fried chicken, these will definitely go with them. Here is the recipe for my stuffed peppers:

the best stuffed peppers.

Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed Peppers

Here’s the recipe for the Crispy Fried Okra:

love this crispy fried okra.

Fried Okra
Fried Okra
Stuffed peppers, Field Peas with Tomatoes and Feta, Fried Okra, Creamed New Potatoes and Jalapeno Cornbread
Stuffed peppers, Field Peas with Tomatoes and Feta, Fried Okra, Creamed New Potatoes and Jalapeno Cornbread

These potatoes are the perfect side to almost any meal, especially a Southern entrée!

delicious creamed new potatoes.

I left the skins on the potatoes, but you can peel if you prefer. You want to cook them until soft because you want them to be between mashed and smashed. Such a very simple recipe.

Creamed New Potatoes

Creamed New Potatoes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 6 servings
Course: easy side dish, Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs new potatoes, quartered
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 cups milk (you can sub with 3/4 cup milk and 3/4 cup heavy cream and cut down on the flour)
  • 3/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

Method
 

  1. Step 2
    Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with salted cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain.
  2. Add butter to saucepan, and melt over medium. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil over medium, whisking occasionally. Boil, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in pepper and salt. Add potatoes. Cook, stirring constantly, until potatoes start to break apart and mixture is thickened, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with chives.
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Filed Under: Vegetables

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