When I was growing up one of my least favorite meals of the year was on New Years Day. My mother usually baked a ham and we always had black eyed peas. I don't know any kid that likes black eyed peas. I was always told I was suppose to eat 365 of them to bring me good luck in the new year. I think the most I ever ate was ten. This year I decided I would try to eat a few more than ten. For dinner tonight I made Hoppin John and Jalapeno Ho Cakes. To make this dish you need:
Hoppin John
1 tbs olive oil
4 slices of bacon, diced fine
2 stalks of celery, diced
1/2 of a green bell pepper, diced
1/2 of a onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced fine
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 pound of smoked ham, cubed
1 pound fresh or frozen black eyed peas
6 cups of water
3 tbs of chicken base
2 cups long grain rice
Salt and Pepper, to taste
In a large dutch oven heat oil over a medium flame. Add the bacon and cook until bacon starts to crisp. Then add the celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper cook until the onion starts to become translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cayenne pepper, ham, and peas to the pot. Add the water and the chicken base. Bring pot to a simmer and cook covered until the peas are tender, usually about an hour. Then reduce the heat to low and add the rice. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
Jalapeno Ho Cakes
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbs sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup of water
1 jalapeno pepper, diced fine
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs butter
In a bowl combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar and stir to combine. Then add eggs, buttermilk, water, and jalapeno and whisk until mixed. Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Then drop mixture by the heaping spoonful into the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on each side.
Serve the Hoppin John over the Jalapeno Ho Cakes. This meal is so delicious you will want to have it more than just on New Years Day. Good luck in the new year!
2 stalks of celery, diced
1/2 of a green bell pepper, diced
1/2 of a onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced fine
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 pound of smoked ham, cubed
1 pound fresh or frozen black eyed peas
6 cups of water
3 tbs of chicken base
2 cups long grain rice
Salt and Pepper, to taste
In a large dutch oven heat oil over a medium flame. Add the bacon and cook until bacon starts to crisp. Then add the celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper cook until the onion starts to become translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cayenne pepper, ham, and peas to the pot. Add the water and the chicken base. Bring pot to a simmer and cook covered until the peas are tender, usually about an hour. Then reduce the heat to low and add the rice. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
Jalapeno Ho Cakes
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbs sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup of water
1 jalapeno pepper, diced fine
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs butter
In a bowl combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar and stir to combine. Then add eggs, buttermilk, water, and jalapeno and whisk until mixed. Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Then drop mixture by the heaping spoonful into the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on each side.
Serve the Hoppin John over the Jalapeno Ho Cakes. This meal is so delicious you will want to have it more than just on New Years Day. Good luck in the new year!
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