Black-Eyed Pea Dip

With tailgating season in full swing and Halloween party plans in the works, I've been asked to include some party foods on my blog. So, I thought that I would start a party food series to run through October for those of you who are looking for ideas.

This recipe has become one of my favorites. Now, I have to admit that I am attracted to some seemingly odd recipes. When I saw this recipe in my Gooseberry Patch's Christmas All Through the House, copyright 2008, and was immediately intrigued. So, I waited for an event to have an excuse to prepare it. I waited and I waited, and finally my cousin invited me to one of her themed dinner parties, a pirate murder mystery. I lept into action and prepared this dip. It didn't quite fit into the seafood pirate theme but I muscled my way to the serving table, threw down my bowl, opened my bag of Frito Scoops, and slinked away unnoticed. It didn't take long before folks started circling - staring, sniffing, questioning - and, finally...tasting. It was a hit!! I cheered!! And, my cousin made the recipe the next weekend for another party. I hope you'll try it, too!

Black-Eyed Pea Dip

16-oz. can black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained and divided
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 c. salsa
4 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
Tortilla, corn or bagel chips
Garnish: sliced green onions

Set aside 1/3 cup peas. Place remaining peas in an electric blender and process until smooth. Add onions, sour cream and garlic salt to blender; process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in salsa, bacon and reserved peas. Garnish, if desired. Serve with chips. Serves 8.

Here are the ingredients. Nothing crazy here...

My reserved peas

Here are the rest of my peas. I have to admit that I don't have a blender. I have a small food chopper that I used to "blend" these peas. But, let's pretend that I left the peas with a rough chop because that's the way I like them.

I stirred in the sour cream, salsa, and garlic salt.

I'm adding this photo of bacon because I like looking at bacon and thought you might like it, too.

Stir in the bacon, green onions, and remaining whole peas.

Enjoy with your favorite chips!