Black-eyed Luck

     At the end of every year, people around the world indulge in special foods to ensure good luck in the days and months ahead.  In America and especially in the southern United States New Years is all about the black-eyed pea.  The black-eyed peas sure did not start out as the southern delicacy it is today rather it was originally used to feed slaves and cattle and had nothing what so ever to do with starting off the new year.  But soon the pea made it's way from the slave cabin to the master's table and that's when the pea's luck began to change.  Soon after the end of the Civil War all kind of dishes using the black-eyed pea were invented.  One of the most prominent and currently the most popular is Hoppin John, a specialty made with black-eyed peas and rice and usually seasoned with some kind of pork.  No one really knows who cooked the first pot of Hoppin John nor does anyone really know when the black-eyed pea became a symbol for good luck.   But without the black-eyed pea it would not be New Years or at least a lucky New Years.