As I’ve said, I’m really enjoying participating in Strange But Good hosted by Laura at Sprint 2 The Table. I fit right in because people sometimes think my food looks strange…Hey…there are times that I think my food looks strange! But it’s usually good, so I’ve found a home with Laura!
For years, I’ve heard about Hoppin’ John. This is a dish that is made traditionally on New Year’s Day. It’s made with black-eyed peas and rice. The black-eyed peas are supposed to bring you good luck in the New Year. I had never actually tried black-eyed peas until sometime in 2012, I don’t exactly remember when. Cooked up a big crock pot full and then used them as I do any of the other beans I make. I liked them and planned to try them again, then I thought about the Hoppin’ John tradition.
I cooked up a half bag of them in my smaller crock pot on Monday with the intention of making it on Tuesday. Didn’t happen…Until Wednesday…
I had also searched on-line for some vegetarian versions and found many. They sounded good, but Heck…it’s rice and beans, why not try my own version. I decided to just go with what I had in the fridge, knowing it would be different from the traditional, but I didn’t care.
I cooked up a pot of brown rice with some knock off Mrs. Dash added in. I sautéed onions and garlic, added red bell peppers, a cup of the black-eyed peas, veggie broth, cabbage and snap peas. Ok, I realize, not traditional, but Someone has to eat all of these veggies I bought!! 😉
The result:
Colorful if nothing else!
How about a close up…
Yes, there ARE black-eyed peas in there. Can’t see the rice, but I hadn’t mixed it up yet. I was up in the air about what seasonings to add so I just added a little more of the Mrs. Dash and left it at that. I must say that I would consider it a success. Traditional, No…Delicious, Yes! Lucky me, I have enough of everything that I can make it again tonight!
One strange footnote. I tried to look up black-eyed peas on the website I usually use to get nutritional info. They were Not listed! Best I could figure out from other sites, I got 11 grams of protein from my peas. Not bad, although when you compare to 18 grams for a cup of lentils…well we know who the winner is.
So that’s Strange But Good for today. Be sure to check out the other blogs over at Sprint 2 The Table and see what odd things everyone comes up with! 😉
Happy Friday! Cook something Strange!
Broken Cookies Don't Count 
glad your recipe improvisation turned out so well, fran – and now you’ll be lucky all year long! (i only learned of that black eye peas for new year’s tradition until last year, thanks to blog reading!). lentils really are a protein powerhouse, aren’t they!
have a great friday!
Hi Cathy! I hope the black eyed pea luck counts if you eat it the day After New Year’s Day! I do love lentils and I just found a great recipe I need to try and then share. Have a great day!
Well…it’s not exactly pretty. But I’m sure it tastes great! Hope you have a very lucky 2013!
Thanks so much, Stephanie! I’m feeling lucky!
Awwww… you HAVE found a home. 🙂
I love this dish – it’s so pretty and colorful. Also, you know I’m all about the protein! Happy Friday!!!
Thanks, Laura and it Tasted good too!
Looks good! I love black-eyed peas. We had Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day—so good!
Hi Dana! Thanks. My first time trying the tradition,but it was tasty! Have a great weekend!
Yep, lentils always beat beans in the protein department, but hey, life would be boring if it were all lentils! I totally forgot about black eyed peas being a New Year’s thing…and I dare to call myself Southern!
You’re still a good Southern girl, Allie with or without black eyed peas! Love my lentils!
Ok, I don’t like peas! But I love you being creative and do something amazing like this!
The whole idea of creating something unique is awesome!
Thanks, Greta! Black eyed peas aren’t like green peas. They’re more like beans. I use them just like I’d use navy beans or black beans. Mix them into things. Give them a try sometime!
Sometimes going ‘off recipe’ can give more interesting results! When I try to do that I end up with a pile/blob of something, but that something is tasty. Who cares what it looks like!? That aside, I think that your dish looks pretty yummy 🙂
Georgia
http://www.didieatthat25.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks, Georgia! I generally don’t follow recipes unless it’s a specific soup recipe or when I’m baking. I generally just look at what I have and figure out what I can make from it. As you say, it still turns out tasty!
It didn’t look that strange! Looks like you’ll get several meals out of that!
Actually that was one meal…Huge I know, but it’s mostly vegetables and it keeps me full. I learned some time ago that I need to eat this way to stay on track and still stay satisfied.