Blind Boy's Pea Soup

This recipe was developed by legendary bluesman Blind Boy Bill Bucy to feed his band during their tours of the Mississippi Delta. Younger brother Jive reported Blind Boy's last words were, "Please, God, don't make me eat that crap in heaven."



The Notes

• 8 ozs. dried peas (one package) Do not soak prior to cooking. Uh-uh.
• 1 celery stalk chopped
• 1 large carrot chopped
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 clove of garlic peeled and whole
• 1 bay leaf
• Dash red pepper
• Dash freshly ground black pepper
• Salt if you want it
• Ham bone or other pig meat, such as salt pork or ham ends

The Arrangement

• Place ingredients in a pot and add 8 cups of water.
• After contents come to a boil, remove pig meat and set aside.
• Continue boiling for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours stirring occasionally.
• Cool. Yes, cool. You don't eat Blind Boy's Pea Soup right away because, like the blues, "it's gotta come from a long time back."

Refrigerate. (Couldn't take a fridge on the road back then, so Blind Boy made his girlfriend hold the pot next to her heart as they drove to the next gig.)

The Performance

The next night, chop up the pig meat, toss it in the soup pot and reheat. Best with a few Dixies and some soda crackers. Blind Boy contemporary Bo Diddley ate it with cornbread. Huh.