it takes a lot of Black Eyed Peas

[Tuesday Afternoon]

to make Hoppin John:

Ingredients:
•1 cup chopped onion
•1 tablespoon bacon drippings
•2 cans (about 16 ounces each) black-eyed peas, slightly drained, or about 3 cups cooked black-eyed peas
•1 cup chopped cooked ham
•1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
•3 cups hot cooked rice
•salt to taste
•sliced sweet onion, optional
Preparation:
In a large saucepan sauté chopped onion in bacon drippings until tender. Stir in black-eyed peas, ham, and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes; stir in hot cooked rice and salt. Serve Hoppin' John hot with sliced onion.
Hoppin' John recipe serves 4 to 6.

serve with cornbread :D

[csziggy]

1. AND with Hog Jowl - sorta like bacon, but better

Here is an article about it: http://uniqueculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/2008/04/hog-jowl-bacon.html
But don't nuke OR fry it. Slice it whatever thickness you like (I like between 1/8 to 1/4" thick), lay out on a pan and bake at 350 F until golden brown and crisp. Absolutely the best thing to go with Hoppin' John and cornbread.

If you want the real thing go to Bradley's Country Store: http://www.bradleyscountrystore.com/ They don't sell their smoked hog jowls over the internet, but they do sell them at the store. Complete with teeth. It's a lot more work than the packaged stuff you get at Publix, but it is ten times as good. And you get some great smoked jaw meat to use for seasoning that pot of Hoppin' John!

This year I started with dried black eyed peas and cooked them in the slow cooker. They turned out the best I've ever made. We had them for New Year's dinner with hog jowls, ham slices, and spoonbread. Spoonbread is cornbread pudding, the way I make it, with sharp cheddar cheese. With a green salad it was a wonderful way to start the New Year!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. that sounds delicious! So then, I am at your house for New Year

right? :D

[xchrom]

3. yum. now i'm hungry. nt