New Year's Day Soup w/ Cheddar Chive Bread

By charlotteh371

Ingredients

• BREAD:
• 1 cup diced smoked lean ham
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, undrained
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer*
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• Garnish: chopped fresh spinach

Preparation

Step 1

Saute first 5 ingredients over medium heat in a Dutch oven until vegetables are tender.

Stir in black-eyed peas and next 4 ingredients; bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and 30 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 cups spinach, parsley, and pepper. Garnish, if desired.


BREAD:

Stir together first 5 ingredients; pour into a lightly greased 9- x 5-inch loaf pan.
Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Pour melted butter over top. Bake 10 more minutes.

*Non-alcoholic or light beer may be substituted.