i love me some black eye peas, and had a mighty strong craving for some a week or so ago...i figured...i'm a savy cook, i can veganize grandma's southern salt pork version that i grew up on...

now, since i was working on the fly, and making things up as i went along, this isn't exactly a "tight" recipe, in other wards...i was adding a lil bit of this...a lil bit of that...tasting, until i got the right balance.

so follow this "loose" recipe, and taste and adjust as you go along...

ki-ki's veganized southern black eye peas

1 package of dried black eye peas
1/2 yellow onion
1/2 bell pepper
1 half strip of kombu*
1-2 tbl. of liquid smoke (i use hickory)
1-2 tbl. of soy sauce
1 capful of vegan bacon bits plus more for garnishing
2 bay leaves
1-2 tsp. onion powder
1-2 tsp. garlic powder
spike *salt-free seasoning to taste
salt and pepper to taste