Hoppin' John

I made this on New Years, and liked it so much that I repeated it, en masse, for a recent church supper. Very filling and great for a damp, chilly day.

• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas
• 8 cups water
• 2 packets Goya seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 pound diced ham, or sausage, cooked
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more, to taste)
• 3 cups long grain rice
• Tabasco sauce

Soak beans overnight and rinse, Combine beans with water, bring to a boil. Add spices, onion, pepper, bacon, meat salt and pepper. Cover and simmer several hours, until beans are tender but not mushy. Add more water, as needed, to keep bean mixture soup-like. Prepare rice according to directions. Serve beans in bowl, over rice, adding hot sauce as desired.