Did you know that improving your health can be as easy as cutting out meat and processed cold cuts one day a week? Doing so can reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Enter Meatless Monday. This week's recipe is Creole Hoppin’ Jean.
Serves 4-6
—¾ cup black-eyed peas, sorted, soaked overnight, drained and rinsed
—½  cup long-grain brown rice, rinsed and soaked overnight
—1 Tbsp. and 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
—½ cup finely diced shallots
—⅛ tsp. onion powder
—¼ tsp. garlic powder
—½ tsp. paprika
—½ tsp. chile powder
—¼ tsp. red chile flakes
—⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
—¼ tsp. dried thyme
—¼ tsp. dried oregano
—2 cups vegetable stock
—1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
— Coarse sea salt
— Freshly ground white pepper

Combine the black-eyed peas with enough water to cover them by 2 inches in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Skim off any foam, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, partially covered, just until tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the heat and drain.
Drain the rice and add to a medium saucepan. Raise the heat to medium and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the water has evaporated and the rice starts smelling nutty. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and continue cooking until the rice starts browning, about 2 minutes.
Add the shallots, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chile powder, red chile flakes, cayenne pepper, thyme, oregano, and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes. Transfer this mixture to a bowl and set aside.
Over medium heat in the saucepan that the rice was cooked in, combine the vegetable stock, the tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Add the rice mixture and the black-eyed peas to the broth, and stir well. Bring back to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 50 minutes, until most of the water has evaporated.
Remove from the heat and steam with the cover on for at least 10 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite hot sauce.

This recipe comes from food activist and vegan chef Bryant Terry.
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