Hoppin' John

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon chopped
• 1 cup black-eyed peas dried
• 0.8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• 1 cup long-cooking rice uncooked
• 0.8 cup onion chopped
• 1.5 teaspoons salt 
• 10 cups water divided

Equipment

• frying pan
• sauce pan

Directions

1. Rinse peas and place in a large saucepan with 6 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat, cover and let stand one hour.
3. Drain and rinse.
4. In same pan, cook bacon until crisp.
5. Drain off drippings, reserving 3 tablespoons in pan.
6. Add peas, remaining water, onion, celery, cayenne peper and salt. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 30 minutes.
7. Add rice; cover and simmer 20 more minutes or until peas and rice are tender.