Oklahoma Black Eyed Peas From Jimmy Steinmeyer Recipes

OKLAHOMA BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pot, over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about five minutes. Remove the bacon, crumble it and set aside. Pour off all but about two tablespoons of fat from the pot.
• Return the pot to medium heat, and toss in the onions, pepper and celery. Brown these in the fat, stirring frequently. Add the crumbled bacon, tomatoes, sugar, bay leaf, basil, salt and pepper and stir. Then add the frozen black-eyed peas. Simmer for one-and-a-half to two hours, or until the beans are soft but not mushy, adding a little water from time to time if the mixture dries out.

OKLAHOMA BLACK-EYED PEAS (FROM JIMMY STEINMEYER)

Steps:

• In a medium-sized pot, over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about five minutes. Remove the bacon, crumble it and set aside. Pour off all but about two tablespoons of fat from the pot.
• Return the pot to medium heat, and toss in the onions, pepper and celery. Brown these in the fat, stirring frequently. Add the crumbled bacon, tomatoes, sugar, bay leaf, basil, salt and pepper and stir. Then add the frozen black-eyed peas. Simmer for one-and-a-half to two hours, or until the beans are soft but not mushy, adding a little water from time to time if the mixture dries out.

COWBOY CAVIAR

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, pickled jalapeno brine, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in the oil to make a smooth dressing.
• Add the black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, cilantro, pickled jalapeno, scallions, tomatoes and bell pepper. Toss to coat in the dressing. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend the flavors before serving. Serve with tortilla chips for scooping.

WATERCRESS AIOLI

Steps:

• Have all the ingredients at room temperture. Combine the egg yolks, mustard, red-wine vinegar, lemon juice and garlic in a bowl and whisk well. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking constantly. Then whisk in the safflower oil until the mayonnaise reaches a desirable consistency (you may not need the safflower oil at all). Should the mayonnaise become too thick, simply whisk in a tablespoon of warm water. Set aside.
• Add the baking soda and salt to a large pot of water. Have a bowl of ice water ready. Bring the pot of water to a rolling boil and toss in the watercress. When the watercress has wilted, drain and immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water. Drain well, squeezing out all excess water. Puree the watercress in a food processor or blender, using quick on-and-off pulses.
• Whisk the pureed watercress into the prepared aioli. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

HERB DIP

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, mixing them well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve with crudites, including cherry tomatoes; yellow-pear tomatoes; red, yellow and green peppers; seeded cucumbers; scallions; baby carrots; French radishes; blanched broccoli, and cauliflower.

STEAK SALAD WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette, clean and chop one morel. In a small pan, combine the oil with the chopped morel and warm over low heat until the oil reaches 125 to 135 degrees, or is warm to the touch. Allow to steep for two hours. Reserve.
• Remove the morel pieces from the oil after they have steeped. Discard the pieces.
• In another bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard and the seasonings and mix thoroughly. Gradually whisk in three-quarters of a cup of the morel oil or a bit more, depending on the acidity of the vinegar. Reserve.
• For the salad, tear the lettuce into bite-size pieces, wrap in a towel and refrigerate.
• In a small pot of lightly salted boiling water, add the peas and a little lemon juice and cook the peas for six to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain under cold running water and drain again. Reserve.
• Repeat the same process with the fava beans, adding the remaining lemon juice. Reserve.
• Repeat the process with the scallions, simmering them for one to two minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve on paper towel.
• Repeat the process with the potatoes and cook for about 12 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and reserve in a covered pot. If the potatoes are larger than the size of a quarter, cut them in halves or quarters.
• In a small saucepan, heat the stock over medium heat, add the cleaned and trimmed morels and simmer for five to seven minutes, or until tender. Drain and reserve, saving the stock for some other use.
• To prepare the relish, chop the tomatoes very fine or pulse once or twice in a food processor. Add the cumin, oil and seasonings. If too thick, add a little of the reserved juice of the tomato and chill.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• In a large skillet, heat about one tablespoon of the remaining oil.
• Season the steak with kosher salt and pepper and raise the heat under the skillet. Sear the steak for about five minutes on each side, until lightly crusted and browned.
• Transfer the steak to the oven and bake for eight to 12 minutes, or until it is done to your preference. Let it rest while you cut the greens.
• In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with enough vinaigrette to coat, then divide among four plates.
• Repeat the process with the vegetables and morels.
• Trim the fat from the steak and slice the meat into thin strips. Arrange the slices over the greens and vegetables in lattice fashion and sprinkle with chervil. Add a little of the tomato relish on the side of each plate and serve.

OKLAHOMA CAVIAR

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients thoroughly, stir in salad dressing.
• Chill overnight (best)!
• Drain if needed.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

HOT BLUEBERRIES (FROM JIMMY STEINMEYER)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, over low heat, melt the butter. Add the berries, sprinkle with the sugar and cook until they give off their liquid and collapse, about eight minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Serve hot over the vanilla ice cream.