Cornbread, black-eye peas and collard greens.

For lunch, I’m having steamed collards with black-eye peas and cornbread.  But I found this recipe and will prepare it in a day or two.

TROPICAL BLACK BEANS & COLLARDS

“They”say 15 minutes prep time and 20 minutes cook time.  Only if you follow “their” recipe.  I’ll use black beans soaked overnight.

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 celery ribs, diced

1-1/2 cups carrots, sliced or shredded

2 15-oz cans low salt black beans  (I’ll use packaged… & soaked)

1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1-1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 pound Natures Greens Collards Greens (or loose leaves from produce section of your market)

In large stockpot on medium-high heat add olive oil, onion and garlic.  Saute for 3-5 minutes.  Add celery and carrots and saute for 3-5 minutes.  Add black beans, chili powder, allspice, smoked paprika, pepper and salt.  Stir to combine.  Add collard greens and stir to combine.  Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Stir often.  Lower heat if beans start sticking to bottom of pot.  Serve hot.  Six to eight servings.  ~~  (Lorraine comment: I may have to shop for Allspice & Paprika–or leave out?!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Postscript, 2:30 PM, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012: I soaked a one pound bag of black beans overnight and then prepared a “double” batch of the above recipe. Yesterday, I bought chili powder, and paprika, but no allspice. I used about five ribs of celery and unknown number of carrots. I used fresh organic collards, thoroughly washed. I chopped up all the collards stems and added them to the entire mixture and cooked for (maybe) two hours. When I was ready to eat… I put chopped collard leaves on top of the mixture and let them steam for about ten minutes. ~~ This Black Bean soup is very good (IMHO) and I have several containers for later meals. When I reheat… I will add collards at the top to steam. We don’t want them mixed into the soup so they become overcooked and soggy!!