Black-Eyed Pea Salsa

I can't believe it's the last day of 2014! This year flew by and although it was amazing, I'm glad to wipe the slate clean and start a new year of fun and memories. To start 2015 off with a touch of good luck, I've decided to make a Black-Eyed Pea dish for my family. If Black-Eyed Peas truly do bring prosperity, I say bring it! I wasn't sure what dish I was going to incorporate Black-Eyed Peas into this year until I received a Christmas present from my fantastic husband - The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations.Black-Eyed Pea Salsa is one of the first recipes in the book and I was immediately sold!

I'm completely guilty of wanting to cook everything that Ree Drummond has shared and this was no exception. Plus, I love that starting the New Year with this Black-Eyed Pea Salsa means having a healthy beginning to 2015 - this recipe is packed with fresh produce!!

Before we get to the recipe for this delicious Black-Eyed Pea Salsa - I must give a big ol' shout-out to the book it came from! The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidaysis a great cookbook for anyone who likes down-home cooking and loves to get festive during the holidays. This cookbook starts off with recipes for New Year's Day and ends, after a yearful of scrumptious holiday recipes, with recipes for New Year's Eve. This book makes my heart go "pitter-patter" with love!!

Plus it's packed full of Ree's entertaining anecdotes and adorable family photos. It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year! I didn't even know this book existed, which probably makes me a HORRIBLE Ree Drummond fan - however, I'm trying to make up for it by spreading the word on this amazing cookbook. From the Valentine's Day Romantic Dinner for Two that includes Bacon-Wrapped Filets and a Bacon-Cheddar Wedge Salad to a Gingerbread House and Rum Pudding Cake for Christmas - I want it all!! {like Veruca from Willy Wonka, no shame here...} Awesome cookbook, enough said. :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve tonight! Be safe and happy - see you next year!!

Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
{printable recipe}
yields approximately 4 cups
Ingredients
3 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
½ teaspoon salt
Directions
1.Combine all ingredients together and allow to chill for at least one hour before serving. Serve alongside tortilla chips and enjoy!
adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays