My husband makes this. He uses green pepper and red. It gives the dish more color. Very good.

By Nancy Strowgerfingerlakes on March 24, 2012

I just love all of your recipes.

By Stacey Barnett on March 07, 2012

I also made this for New Years Eve and used green peppers. It turned out great. We have a new family tradition to make Hoppin John for New Year!

By Anonymous on January 10, 2012

Made this for New Years lunch...came out delish, had to use green peppers instead of red, grocery stores were out of red peppers, but used canned black eye peas and instant rice quick and easy. Thanks Paula

By Darlene on January 01, 2012

Hello Paula My family and I would love to come to your restaurant and eat, also meet you we are fans of yours. How often do you get a chance to greet customers at your restaurant?

By Larry on December 31, 2011

Thank you for all the incredible recipes! Having one Grandmama from Tennessee and one from Louisiana I had the good fortune of having good and loving Soouthern food all my life!!! You make me proud to be a good ole Southern Girl!,,, Love ya!, Donnd

By Donna Vincent Ballard on December 27, 2011

I love this recipe!! I normally use green pepper instead of red and I sometimes add cut up ham to make it a main dish and serve with cornbread! Great meal when eating on a budget and absolutely delicious. I almost always have all the ingredients in my kitchen! My kids love it!

By Ashley b on April 19, 2011

Maxine - Use Paula's Hoppin John recipe as a guide to make your own. You can use canned beans, instant rice and petite diced canned tomatoes if that is what you like. Adjust your amounts for two people and freeze the remainder of the tomatoes for later use. Don't be intimidated by recipes like this, PD won't mind. Experiment and make it your own. You can use minced garlic if you don't like garlic powder. Baking is much more strict with following instructions. Cooking should be fun, enjoy yourself. You're retired not retarded. Good Luck.

By Paula Thomas on December 30, 2010

I am a novice cook. How do I cook the black eyed peas? Use dried, frozen or canned? No tomatoes???? My Mama always used tomatos - canned , what kind? Can you used instant rice? (Minute rice???) I just need the whole recipe - in simple lang. like "Hoppin John for Dummies". People who know how to cook really well often leave out lots of steps for dummies like me. I need details and simple steps - like boil water - how much water. Thanks for your patience with me. I'm a fellow Southerner - a retired teacher who never learned how to cook - I'm embarrassed to tell you how old I am. But I'm retired now and I want to learn how to cook for my sweet husband of 42years who has pulmonary fibrosis. I just treasure each day we have, and I want to please him by cooking good Southern meals for him. Thanks. Maxine Moates, a Southern Belle who can't cook in South Alabama

By maxine on December 28, 2010