Hoppin` John (Usa Rice)

4 oz Diced smoked turkey sausage

-OR- ham (optional) 1 c Diced onion

1/2 c Diced celery

2 Garlic cloves; minced

2 c Low-sodium chicken broth

4 oz Black-eyed peas

--picked over and rinsed 1 Bay leaf

4 oz Long-grain white rice

1/2 ts Dried thyme

1/2 ts Pepper

1/4 c Chopped scallions

2 tb Minced parsley

"This traditional Southern dish is served on New Year`s Day for good luck throughout the year." Spray medium saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Add sausage, if using; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes, until lightly browned. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring until onion is golden. Add garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Add broth, black-eyed peas, bay leaf and 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour, until peas are soft but not mushy. Add rice, thyme and pepper; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until rice is just tender. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes, covered. Sprinkle with scallions and parsley and serve. Each serving (1-1/3 cup) with sausage provides: * 1 V, 1-1/2 P, 1 B, 10 C. Per serving (with sausage): * 281 cal, 17 g pro, 45 car, * 4 g fat: 1 g poly, 1 g mono, 1 g sat; * 302 mg sod, 19 mg chol. Each serving (1-1/3 cup) without sausage provides: * 1 V, 1/2 P, 1 B, 10 C. Per serving (without sausage): * 238 cal, 13 g pro, 45 g car, * 2 g fat: 0 g poly, 0 g mono, 0 g sat; * 50 mg sod, 0 mg chol. Source: Wonderful World of Walnuts & Rice (Weight Watchers Magazine in association with The Rice Council and The Walnut Marketing Board) Reprinted with permission from USA Rice Council Electronic format courtesy of Karen Mintzias