Cook up a pot of Hoppin’ John and you can ring in the New Year with a taste of the South – and good fortune. Legend has it that eating Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day will bring you luck. The black-eyes peas are said to resemble coins or pennies. Many people add collard greens and cornbread to the meal. The collard greens represent money with their green color. This dish originated in the Lowcountry, possibly from West African slaves.
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
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
3 cups hot cooked rice
salt to taste
sliced sweet onion, optional
DIRECTIONS:
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 and cornbread. Serves 4 to 6