• Cooking Time: 45 min to 1 1/2 hours
• Servings: 8
• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1. 1. In a large bowl, cover the black-eyed peas with room-temperature water and let soak for 20 minutes.
2. 2. In a large saucepan, combine 2 quarts of water with the vegetable oil, salt and sugar and bring to a vigorous boil. Drain the black-eyed peas and add them to the saucepan. Simmer over moderate heat until the peas are tender but not mushy, 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the freshness of the beans (older beans need to cook longer). Add boiling water to the saucepan as it evaporates to keep the black-eyed peas covered. Drain the black-eyed peas in a colander, transfer them to a medium bowl and serve.

Celia serves black-eyed peas as a side dish in the elegant dinner she prepares for her close friend Minnie Jackson. Black-eyed peas are a straightforward staple for a Southern meal and are best served warm.