Hearty Healthy Hoppin' John

For the prep:

• 1 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes drained and chopped small (reserve the juice)
• 4 celery diced small, medium stalks
• 1 red bell pepper diced small, medium
• 1 yellow bell pepper diced small, medium
• 1 bell pepper diced small, medium, orange
• 1 red onion diced small, medium
• 1 onion diced small, medium, sweet, yellow
• 2 jalapeño seeds removed and finely chopped, medium-size
• ¼ cup parsley chopped, fresh
• 2 ounce cans black-eyed peas drained and rinsed
• 2 cups ham diced in ½-inch pieces, diced, smoky

For the Hoppin’ John:

• 2 lices Bacon halved lengthwise then cut into ½ inch slices, thick-cut, smoky
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon basil dried
• 1 teaspoon oregano dried
• 1 teaspoon thyme dried
• 3 cups chicken broth maybe more, low-sodium
• 2 bay leaf 3 if small, medium-size
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
• ¼ cup parsley finely chopped, fresh

To finish:

• 4 cups rice I like basmati (about a half cup per serving, cooked
• green onions thinly sliced on a diagonal, optional
• cherry tomato optional, halved
• avocado optional, slices