Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax

Hoppin' John

There's a southern tradition about eating black-eyed peas on New year's Day to bring good luck for the year. I started making Hoppin' John a few years ago just to try it out...no superstition, I just thought it sounded like another good way to eat beans.

But I have had pretty decent luck since, come to think of it.

I don't have a recipe per se...I looked up Hoppin' John in some cookbooks and on the internet and went from there. It's a good New Year's Day dinner...it can use up some Christmas leftovers (if you happened to have ham for Christmas, say) and since you really just dump stuff in a pot, it doesn't require much thought or attention if you are a bit under the weather from the festivities New Year's Eve.

Here is how I make it:

Saute a chopped onion, sliced celery, and minced garlic in a large pot. Add black-eyed peas (I just use bag of frozen ones), diced ham, rice (I steam it in advance), and tomato (I use a can of crushed and a can of whole tomato with the juice, breaking the whole tomatoes up a bit). Season with salt, pepper (I use the Hot Shot pepper mix), parsley, thyme, and a couple of bay leaves. Simmer...if I'm making it in the morning to eat for dinner I use a Crock Pot, but today I'm going to a hockey game so I'm aiming to eat it during the Gator Bowl, hoping my good luck extends to the Terps, so I have it on the stovetop. Add some water if necessary...it shouldn't be soupy but it needs some liquid. Season further with Tabasco (or Crystal, or Frank's, or the hot sauce of your choice.).

Serve with corn bread and greens of some kind (collard, mustard, turnip)...greens are another good luck tradition, representing folding money or something. I don't like them and don't bother to eat 'em, which may explain why I'm still broke.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2004!