Hoppin' John - Cajun Style

A Cajun version of the Southern traditional New Year's Day dish. Zesty, rich and filling!

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3 -4  slices bacon
• 1  cup  uncooked rice
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 (11 1/2ounce) can tomato juice
• 1 (12 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped onion
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  celery salt
• 1  teaspoon  cajun spices (more or less to taste) or 1  teaspoon  dry rub seasonings (more or less to taste)
• 2  teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (more or less to taste)
• 2  tablespoons bacon drippings or 2  tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
• 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, undrained
•  parsley

Directions

1. Fry bacon, drain on paper toweling; crumble and set aside.
2. Reserve 2 tablespoons grease.
3. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine rice, water, tomato juice, tomatoes, onion, seasonings (liquid and dry) and bacon drippings.
4. Pour into a 2 quart buttered casserole; cover tightly.
5. Bake at 350* for 1 hour.
6. Uncover, stir and toss lightly with black-eyed peas.
7. Top with crumbled bacon pieces.
8. Cover and bake for about 30 more minutes.
9. Garnish with parsley, if desired.