A must for New Years Day. Good luck for the New Year.

1/2 lb. beef bacon
2 pkgs. fresh black eyed peas
1 bay leaf
1 whole yellow onion, med.
1 stalk celery, cut in 1/2
1/2 tsp. crushed red peppers
1/4 c. green onions, chopped
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin

Fry bacon until crisp, crumble into small pieces; set aside.

Place peas in saucepan, cover with water. Add bay leaf, yellow onion and celery. Bring to a boil, simmer 45 minutes. (Discard celery, bay leaf and onion.) Save stock.

Return peas and stock to saucepan. Bring to a boil, add red peppers, green onions, cumin, celery and bacon. Simmer until peas are tender. Serve over rice and honey wheat cornbread.