Hoppin' John

• 1 cup dried black eyed peas
• 3 cups cold water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 medium onion, chopped

Soak peas in cold water overnight. Drain and rinse. *

Boil peas in unsalted water until tender, about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Cook the bacon in a skillet with the chopped onion.

Add peas, salt, rice and 2-1/4 cups of pea liquid to bacon with grease and onion. Cook until rice is done, about 20 minutes.

* for fast soak, bring peas to boil in 3 cups unsalted water, remove from heat and let soak 1 hour. Drain and rinse.