Name: Hoppin’ John
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: North America, Southern
Ingredients: 1/2 pound sliced bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 small green or sweet red pepper, chopped; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 6 green onions, sliced; 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice; 2 cups water; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 bay leaf; 1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

Serve up good food (and good luck) with hoppin' John, a southern staple made with beans and bacon.

Ingredients

1/2 pound sliced bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 small green or sweet red pepper, chopped

2 celery ribs, chopped

6 green onions, sliced

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice

2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 bay leaf

1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

Instructions

1 Saute the bacon and vegetables

2 In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain it on paper towels; discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Editor's Tip: Keep the extra bacon grease for other cooking projects. Saute the pepper, celery and onions in the bacon drippings until they're almost tender.

3 Cook the rice

4 Add rice, water, seasonings and herbs to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

5 Add the peas and bacon

6 Add the black-eyed peas and cooked bacon. Simmer for 10 minutes longer. Discard the bay leaf before serving.