kadmium

In which Katie and I try some Fermented Milk Soft Drink. Pictures! Words!

Also, I just noticed that this is my third food-related post in a row, so I̻ve created a food category for the site. In case anyone ever browses the archives by category.

Sometimes it’s hard not to feel like the universe is conspiring against me. In a single day I found out that:

• All of our local Taco Bells have stopped serving Dr. Pepper. This is like not serving mustard with hot dogs. Like not putting jelly on peanut butter. This is sacrilege.
• Some car company (Dodge? I can’t remember … ) has tapped Celine Dion to sing warbley, overwrought, drippy, sacharine crap in faux black and white ads (highlighting the sincerity and touching-ness of said brand’s family sedans) during prime time, requiring rapid and judicious use of the mute button.

That is all.

There’s a tradition in the southern US that eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s day will bring you good luck. Many people serve a dish called Hoppin’ John, but in my family we have something a little different. It&#8217s nice because it’s intended to be served cold, so you can make it ahead of time and it keeps really well. I can never remember the recipe, and always have to get it from my mom, so this year I decided to immortalize it.

So if you haven’t had your black-eyed peas yet this year, get it done this weekend and you’ll probably be safe. If you’re looking for a way to prepare them, try this.

• one can black-eyed peas
• one-quarter cup olive oil (Since this is not a cooked dish, used extra-virgin. It’ll taste better.)
• one-quarter cup wine vinegar (I usually use white, but I have made it with red and it’s fine, too.)
• half a bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
• one-quarter cup green onions
• one-eighth cup sugar (two tablespoons)
• one teaspoon garlic (or garlic powder)
• one-half teaspoon salt

Mix up the whole shootin’ match in a bowl, cover it, and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours, more if you can. This is one of those things that gets better if it sits for a while, letting the flavors combine.