New Year’s black-eyed peas

Eating black-eyed peas for New Year’s is a Southern tradition that is supposed to bring good luck. But you don’t have to settle for canned beans. Put this on the stove to simmer after lunch, check on it periodically, and you’ll have dinner without much effort. Serve this with your favorite $10 wine.

Serves 4, takes about 2.5 hours

1 lb dried black-eyed peas

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1/2 bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Add water to cover the beans by an inch or so.

2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook until beans are tender. This could take as little as an hour or as long as three or four hours, depending on the beans. You may also need to add water if the beans look dry.

Q. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A BOTTLE OF WINE?

A. A lot less than you think — about $6, according to Nielsen, which tracks U.S. retail wine sales. Most of the wine sold in the U.S. costs less than $10. —JEFF SIEGEL taste@advocatemag.com