HOPPING JOHN

Be sure to eat your portion of Hopping John before noon on January 1 to guarantee a new year of good luck!

6 entrée servings (about 1 cup each)

1½ cups chopped onions

½ cup chopped celery

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup long-grain white rice

3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1 bay leaf

2 cans (15 ounces each) black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained

2–3 dashes each: red pepper sauce, liquid smoke (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Sauté onions, celery, and garlic in lightly greased large saucepan until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add rice, broth, oregano, and bay leaf; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring in black-eyed peas, red pepper sauce, and liquid smoke during last 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Per Serving:

Calories: 306

% of calories from fat: 21

Fat (gm): 7

Saturated fat (gm): 1

Cholesterol (mg): 0

Sodium (mg): 447

Protein (gm): 9.6

Carbohydrate (gm): 50.7

Exchanges:

Milk: 0.0

Vegetable: 1.0

Fruit: 0.0

Bread: 3.0

Meat: 0.5

Fat: 1.0