Hoppin' New Year – Garden & Gun

Ingredients

• 1 lb. dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked over
• 3/4 lb. Tasso ham, diced
• 1 onion, halved
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 lb. bacon, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
• 1 cup Cajun Grain rice (or a good-quality long grain rice)
• 6 green onions, sliced
• 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp. coarse salt
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper