New Year's Black Eyed Peas

6 slices of fresh, thickly sliced bacon

3 cans of black eyed peas
1 bag frozen spinach
1/2 green, yellow and red bell peppers,finely cubed
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
handful of jalapeno pepper slices, chopped
shake, shake, shake Tony Chacherre's with herbs

1 black iron skillet of cornbread. Martha White is an acceptable cheat.

Substitute 1 cup of sliced mushrooms for the bacon for a vegetarian version, to be added when you take the cornbread out of the oven so they do not overcook.

Fry the bacon until crispy; set aside to drain.

Save bacon grease to taste. Dump everything else in the pan; stir. Chop crispy bacon; add to pan; stir.

Simmer for twenty minutes, which should be when your cornbread is coming out of the oven.

Corned beef and cabbage was my family's preferred tradition. I prefer this Texas tradition, although I have to admit my in-laws are horrified and confused by the excessive veggies.

Have a wonderful 2006.