We’d wanted to try Hoppin’ John—the black-eyed pea dish served on January 1st for good luck—ever since Uncle Albert published New Year be Coming!: A Gullah Year in 2002. So this time last year, when we were in the middle of production on the book Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas, we were sure to cook up a pot of black-eyed peas at home on New Year’s Day. Not just for the good luck (though editors could always use some, you know, to make up for bad rejection-letter karma) but for research purposes. We picked a recipe and fixed it for dinner.
It was some tasty stuff, and we like to think that we were pretty lucky in 2007. Good things are happening with our current and upcoming titles, which we’ll continue to tell you about here. And for this new batch of peas on Monday, we’ll be serving it with greens (for money), cornbread (for gold), and tomatoes (for health). Also, celery for starred reviews, and ham for getting our books on state master reading lists. Okay, we made those last two up. Still, we’re going to try!
If you’d like to make your own batch of Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day, try author Gail Piernas-Davenport’s recipe, which appears in the back of Shanté Keys. Click below for more, and have a Happy New Year!
Hoppin’ John
3/4 cup chopped onion; 3/4 cup chopped celery; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons canola oil; 1 12-ounce package fresh black-eyed peas, rinsed*; 2 2/3 cups chicken broth; 1/2 pound cubed ham; 1 bay leaf; cooked rice.
Heat the oil in a large pot and sauté onions, celery, and garlic until tender, about 3 minutes. Add peas, chicken broth, ham, and bay leaf. Boil for 3 minutes, then lower heat, cover and simmer until peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Check the pot occasionally and add water if needed. Remove bay leaf and serve over cooked rice. Season to suit taste.
* This recipe uses fresh black-eyed peas, which can be found in the produce section of your supermarket, but you can also use canned peas or dried peas (follow instructions).
Such a fun concept! I love going to the zoo, and I'm glad this little hippo is having a great time as well!
So cute!! Now that's a happy hippo!
Ginger, this has that wonderful soft, yet animated quality that all your illustrations posess so well! What a cute illustration! Love the boy's expression. And look! It looks like Mr. Hippo is about to taste my favorite ice cream - mint chocolate chip!!
Last time I went to the zoo here in Indianapolis, it was so hot outside that all the animals hid in the shade. Not cool, animals.
LOL! love those hippos!
Wonderful work Ginger! That hippo sure does have loads of personality. Congratulations on your win with WIN!!! I received an email that you Elizabeth and Paige are winners and I was thrilled for all of you!
wonderful, you made me smile! loove their faces...
Love how you have separated the 2 sides out to show it from either viewpoint. Cool!
That hippo looks so happy to be getting the ice cream! I love the real contrast between the expressions... perfect!
So sweet!
ha ha ha ... really!
thanks for stopping by and comment in my blog, ginger!
Uh oh, she's discovered what it's like to lose her ice cream to a giant animal and the hippo is discovering how lucky he is to be at the right place at the right time! Love the split perspectives.
lov their expessions and how u handeled the water
oh i love this! hippo looks my kids do when they discover something yummy!
Looks like the hippo is about to discover the delights of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Great expressions all around!
You are right, a zoo is a great place to discover and your kids have a wonderful discovery look on their faces.
Who knew that hippos liked ice cream?? :-)
Darling illo! I love your work.
Ginger, you create a colorful and inviting world to escape into!
I didnt know hippos liked ice cream either. Lovely!
so cool hippo!
lovely illo, very expressive.
Congratulations on the smart writers award.
I love the expressions and thankyou for capturing the closer versions for us as well
these are so cute and expressive and adventurous! were they drawn n colored in photoshop??
Zoos are one of my favorite places to make discoveries. And the way you've captured the hippo's glee (that ice-cream looks very yummy indeed) is perfect!
Hippos are so graceful! I once saw an exhibit at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio where you can see them swimming under water, and it's just so beautiful, true water horses.