Hoppin' Marty-John

Marty is always in charge of cooking the Hoppin' John at our house every New Year's Day. When we were first married, he made me eat pickled herring in a sour cream sauce as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning. After proving to him that this did not bring good luck- I was able to introduce the southern tradition of black eyed peas and I have had great luck ever since! (at least I have been lucky enough to avoid pickled herring!)

1 pound of bacon 1 pound black eyed peas
1 large yellow onion diced fine Fajita spice mix

Cook the bacon in frying pan slowly until it is cooked. Take out the bacon, add the onions to the pan and cook them until they are tender.
Meanwhile boil the black eyed until tender. Drain. Put the bacon/onions on top to the black eyed peas and cover with chicken broth add fajita spices and salt to taste. Simmer for about an hour. Serve with rice or eat alone.

CHOCOLATE MELTING MOMENTS

1 cup butter softened
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups flour
Mocha Filling (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat 1 cup butter, confectioners' sugar and cocoa in large bowl until fluffy. Blend in flour until smooth. Shape dough into inch size balls. (If dough is too soft to handle, cover and refrigerate until firm.) Place on cookie sheets. Press center of each ball with knuckle of finger to make indentation.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until set.

Prepare Mocha Filling. While cookies are still warm, spoon about 1/2 teaspoonful filling into center of each.

MOCHA FILLING

2 tbsp butter or margarine
6 tablespoons unsweetened chocolate
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp hot postum or pero

Melt 1 tablespoon butter and chocolate in small heavy saucepan over low heat; stir until melted. Blend in powdered sugar, vanilla and enough postum to make a smooth filling.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

April's Chili

A few years ago a friend of mine gave me her award winning chili recie  I can't guarantee that I always win the prize with this but I really like it.  Sometimes I alter the ingredients a little.  Last time I made it I added 1/4 Cup of BBQ sauce so that I could have a little bit of a smokey flavor but I usually don't.

2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 C chopped onion
5 minced garlic cloves
1 Chopped  green pepper
1 C choppeed celery

Saute, then drain off grease.

Then add the following 14 oz cans:
1 can black beans
2 cans ranch style beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can rotel
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can low sodium chicken broth or beef broth

Then Add:
1 t worstershire sauce
2 T chili powder
1 T oregano
1 t corriander seeds
1 t basil
2 t salt
pepper to taste
1/2-3/4 C Brown Sugar
1 T vinegar
1/4 C catsup
Dash of tabasco

Bring to a low boil then simmer for a couple of hours.