New Year’s Day Soup

1 cup diced smoked lean ham

2 celery ribs, ¼ inch dice

2 carrots, ¼ inch dice

1 medium onion, ¼ inch dice

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 ( 15 ounce ) cans black-eyed peas, undrained

2 ( 14 1/2 ounce ) cans chicken broth

2 ( 14 1/2 ounce ) cans stewed tomatoes undrained

1 ( 14 1/2 ounce ) can diced tomatoes undrained

1 ( 8 ounce ) can tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach (save some for garnish)

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley,

1/2 tsp. pepper

Salt to taste

  1. Sauté first 5 ingredients over medium heat in Dutch oven until tender.
  2. Stir in black-eyed peas and next 4 ingredients and bring mixture to a boil.
  3. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and 30 mins.
  4. Stir in spinach,parsley, salt and pepper.

Yield: 10 delicious, nourishing cups of soup!