Coloma County Casserole

My dad found this recipe, but I am not able to find a "Coloma County" in the south (California gold country and Wisconsin are the two that come up). I also haven't seen black eyed peas done this way, but it is the best way and will convert most people who say they hate black eyed peas.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. bag dried black eyed peas
• Bay Leaf
  
• 2 cups chopped ham
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded & divided
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 onion, chopped (save other half for beans)
  
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
  
• 2 tsp Seasoned Salt (Lawry's)
• 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce

Soak beans overnight, and rinse. Cover with fresh water and bring to boil in large pot. Add a ham bone if you have one, and the non-chopped half of onion & bay leaf. Reduce to simmer and let cook until the peas are soft, an hour to 90 minutes.

Make a cheese sauce by sauteing the onion and butter until onions are soft. Add milk and heat to almost boiling. Add cornstarch dissolved into a little cold milk, and stir with a whisk into the milk mixture. Keep stirring as it thickens. Add Seasoned Salt, Tabasco, and 1 cup of the cheese.

Grease a 13"x9" casserole dish. Add drained black eyed peas, ham & cheese sauce. Top with remaining cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with corn bread and collard greens on New Year's Day for luck & prosperity. And if you double up on the ham and cheese, it still comes out okay.

[photo from sleepyneko's flickr stream]