My Grandma, Winnie A. Dennis Wilson, born February 29, 1916, gave me cooking lessons every weekend of my ninth year. I cooked beside her throughout my childhood, and as those we hold dear, I keep her always in my thoughts.

Black-eyed peas weren’t part of my childhood, not even on New Year’s Day. In my thirties I made black-eyed pea stew with ham hocks — it was a favorite, but that was it. Then, when I taught world cooking, black-eyed peas popped up in recipes from Africa to Greece. My world opened. Black-eyed peas, bringers of good fortune, symbolize what happens when I allow something new in, and integrate an ingredient into my life.

We all know that food can nourish us in more ways than one…

 The Instant Pot is a boon for cooking tasty Irish stews. It requires little effort and time, and the results are fabulous. After an hour, including prep and hands-off cooking time I have a stew that’s fall apart tender with a rich stock and complex flavors.