New Year's Day "Health & Wealth" Meal (Hoppin' John Salad with Molasses Dressing and Collard Greens with Red Onion and Bacon)

Collard Greens with Red Onion and Bacon

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Pound Sliced Bacon, Cut Crosswise into Quarters
• 3 Medium Red Onions, Chopped Coarse
• 1-1/4 Cups Chicken Broth
• 1/4 Cup Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 4 Pounds Collard Greens, Washed, Large Stems and Ribs Removed and Chopped Coarse

DIRECTIONS:

• In a large pot, cook bacon in batches, if necessary, until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Remove all but 3 tablespoons of bacon grease and cook onions, until slightly browned and soft, about 5 minutes.
• Remove onions with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add broth, vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes and half of bacon to pot and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Add half of collard greens and toss until wilted.
• Add remaining collard greens, toss until combined and simmer, covered for 30 minutes.
• Stir in onions and simmer for another 30 minutes, until collard greens are very tender.
• Serve collard greens topped with remaining bacon.
  

Hoppin' John Salad with Molasses Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 Cup Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup Molasses
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 1-Pound Bag Frozen Black-Eyed Peas
• 1-1/2 Cups Sweet Potato, Cut to 1/2 Inch Cubes
• 12 Ounces Chorizo
  
• 1-1/2 Cups Frozen Sliced Okra, Thawed and Patted Dry
• 1 Cup Red Onion, Chopped

DIRECTIONS:

• Grill chorizo until cooked throughout, about 20 minutes.
• Cut chorizo into 1/2 inch slices and set aside.
  
• Whisk cider vinegar, molasses, olive oil, and cayenne pepper in a bowl until blended and season with salt and pepper.
• Boil 6 cups salted water and cook black-eyed peas and sweet potato until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Drain and cool black-eyed peas and sweet potato and place in a large bowl.
  
• Add chorizo, okra, onion and dressing to bowl and toss to coat.

Happy New Year! It's said that eating Hoppin' John on New Years day will bring good luck and eating collard greens will bring wealth to the new year. This updated version on the classic southern dish is a new Beans tradition.
Enjoy!