S.P. You live in Tennessee and don't know what's in Hoppinjohn? O.K. This is my grannies recipe from Arkansas. The only real difference between the Arkansas version, and those of Southern areas farther south is the meat used, and the greens added. The general recipe has black eyed peas, rice, some kind of meat, (generally pork) onions, red pepper flakes, and some kind of greens. Deep South versions usually have collards added as the greens. Real Arkansas Hoppinjohn often has Poke salad as the green of choice. But my granny always used Okra because Poke is pretty hard to come by in January. Meat can be any or all of the following, Smoked hamhocks, bacon, or ham, and I have even had it with Andouille sausage, and shrimp. I like to buy frozen black eyed peas instead of dried, and frozen okra, and whatever smoked pork is the cheapest. Short grained rice will thicken it up nicely, and give it better body. Pretty good stuff, I've never had to bring any home. It's supposed to be eaten on New Years to bring good luck according to Southern legend.
Hungry Horse
