• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 oz collards, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2-3 drops hot pepper sauce

1. In a large saucepan, combine the black-eyed peas and water, and let them soak overnight.
2. When ready to cook, bring the beans and the liquid to a boil over high heat.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 50 minutes.
4. Transfer the beans and liquid to a 3-quart nonstick baking dish.
5. In saucepan, add the oil, and warm over medium heat. Add the onions, green peppers, and mushrooms, and saute for about 5 minutes
6. Add the garlic and collards.
7. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the collards are just wilted, stirring occasionally,.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
9. To the black-eyed peas and liquid, add the collard mixture, tomato sauce, ketchup, molasses, honey, mustard, parsley, and hot pepper sauce.
10. Mix well.
11. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.

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It’s finally here!

The dates and cost for our Italy Pilgrimage from Sicily to Rome with stops in Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, Mt. Etna, Taormina, The Amalfi Coast - Messina, Sorrento, Pompeii, and a General Audience with the Holy Father in Rome!

I’m calling this a “Feeding Your Faith Tour” operated by the highly professional NAWAS International Travel, Inc., with me as your Host and Guide!

Many people in my past pilgrimages have left wanting to return to Italy or to some other spiritual destination with me and through NAWAS. Others have left saying that this trip “changed their lives!”

I guarantee you the beauty of this country, from the landscape, the practice of their Faith, and THE FOOD will satisfy some of your greatest hungers!

The cost of this trip is $3,750.00 per person, which includes round-trip airfare, accommodations in first class hotels, continental daily breakfasts, private motor-coach and tour escort, admission fees, porterage, hotel taxes and service charges, and $100,000 automatic flight insurance. Needless to say, in the midst of Italy’s busiest travel dates, this is a pretty darn good deal!

Here’s the “bad news” I am limiting the number of pilgrims to 35 people ONLY. In past trips, I usually accept up to 50 pilgrims, but this trip will be a bit more specialized, so I want to make sure each participant gets a full experience. Therefore I will reserve only 35 spaces.

Actually, I already have 8 people on the waiting list who have expressed serious interest in participating, so realistically, there’s only about 27 spots available. If you’re interested, send me an email ASAP at fatherleo@gracebeforemeals.com and let me know if you want to reserve a spot.

Very soon NAWAS tour company will make available colored brochures for you to review, complete and send back with the proper deposits. I will even send you another copy so that you can keep on to begin your scrap book!

I want to get this information out to you as soon as possible, so please pray about this pilgrimage and let me know ASAP!

Another little “caveat”: Since my pilgrimages are real experiences of our faith, we do have to “walk the talk” and therefore, I ask that if you are interested in coming, please be sure you are healthy enough to do the walking with me. It’s really the only way you will see Italy as the Italians see it.

In the meantime, I pray that you will all enjoy the New Year’s Eve Celebration. Don’t forget that January 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation, or a Holy Day of “Opportunity” as one priest friend describes it! It’s a great start to a New Year - Feasting on the Lord’s Goodness and the Communion of the Saints!

I look forward to hearing from you all about reserving your space with me on this Feeding Your Faith Pilgrimage!

(Note: you can read about Fr. Leo’s latest pilgrimage in our twelve post series in earlier blog posts-riz)

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Click Here to read last week’s email blast, “The Grace Before Meals Family”

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