Noah’s Tasty Hoppin’ John with Extra BAM!!
Today’s Fortune: Your creative talent is reflected in your work.
Well, once again, my fortune is right! The Hoppin’ John I made last night was so good, I will have to share the recipe! Even my Uncle Phil really liked it, and he doesn’t like stuff like onions and peppers. Hoppin’ John has both, but he liked it just fine! So this recipe is Noah tested, Uncle Phil approved!!
Here is what you will need to make Noah’s Tasty Hoppin’ John with Extra BAM!!: (If you decide to make my Hoppin’ John you can print a copy of my recipe from this link…)
- 2 tablespoons of bacon grease
- 1 bunch of green onions, chopped up really small (You can save the green part to sprinkle on the top of your Hoppin’ John when it is done, if you want. This is called a “garnish”.)
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped up small
- 1 ½ tablespoons of minced garlic
- 5 14 oz. cans of chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning
- 3 11 oz. fresh pack containers of black-eyed peas (You can substitute dried black-eyed peas, if you can’t find the fresh ones, but you will have to soak them overnight. The fresh ones are better. And easier.)
- 1 12 oz. package of Hormel diced ham chunks
- 4 cups of cooked rice
- Tabasco sauce (This is the Extra BAM!! part)
Here is a picture of all the stuff you will need. Except for the bacon grease. If you live in the South, look inside your fridge, because there is probably some in there. If you don’t live in the South, you might have to cook some bacon before you can make my Hoppin’ John. Don’t use olive oil like Emeril Lagasse does. Don’t use butter like Paula Deen does either. Your Hoppin’ John will not taste nearly as good if you do.
You will also need measuring spoons, a big pot called a “stockpot”, a cutting board and a knife. Get your Adult Supervision lined up, too. She will need to help with chopping up the onions and peppers. If you get cut, it will take all of the fun out of your Hoppin’ John.
Melt your bacon grease in the stockpot on the stove. Add in the onions, peppers and garlic, and stir them around for a couple of minutes. This is called “sauteing.” Add in your ham, and let it cook for another four minutes or so, stirring it frequently.
Then you will add in three cans of the chicken broth, the black-eyed peas, the salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Bring it to a boil, and then reduce the heat. This is called “simmering.” You will need to simmer your Hoppin’ John for about an hour, and you will want to keep an eye on it, because the liquid will evaporate while it is simmering. When that happens, you can just keep adding chicken broth to the pot. Be sure to stir your Hoppin’ John from time to time, to make sure it is not sticking to the pot.
While your Hoppin’ John is cooking, you can make your rice. Your Hoppin’ John is done when the black-eyed peas are soft and tender. Then, just get a bowl and put in some rice, and put the Hoppin’ John on top of it.
This is where I add the Extra BAM!! I sprinkle some Tabasco sauce on my Hoppin’ John. I use a lot, but you can use a little. Or none at all. But it is better if you do. Plus, you get to holler “BAM!!” while you are doing it, which makes your Hoppin’ John even more fun!
My pal, Big Monkey, asked if I could show a picture of Noah’s Tasty Hoppin’ John with Extra BAM!! when it was done. This is what it looks like (but this was before I added Extra BAM!! and stirred it all up):
We had our Hoppin’ John with some cheesy cornbread that Uncle Phil and Aunt Karon brought, and we had Puggerhuggers for dessert. If you don’t know what Puggerhuggers are, you can find my recipe for them on my blog post from December 31.
Our dinner was delicious, and Uncle Phil liked my Tasty Hoppin’ John with Extra BAM!! so much that he and Aunt Karon took some home with them!
Mom said that my recipe blew Emeril’s and Paula’s right out of the competition!
BAM!!!!!!!
Today’s Vocabulary Words: Garnish, stockpot, sauteing, simmering
4 Comments
2muchfun
Noah, come cook for me please. I will knit long johns for you if you do.
Auntie Pam
Noah
Hi, Auntie Pam!
I will be happy to come cook for you! Mom will probably not let me cook for two weeks anyway. She is starting her painting job tomorrow. We usually have sandwiches when she is working, because she is too tired to cook when she gets home. I might make her some of that good soup mix you sent us, though. All I have to do is add water to that. She won’t even have to do Adult Supervision!
Love, Noah
Big Monkey
It looks delicious, Noah! You have outdone yourself again!
Your Pal,
Big Monkey
Noah
Hi, Big Monkey!
Thank you! Mom is really glad she finally let me cook. I am much better at it than she is.
Love, Noah