Recipes to share, that is, if anyone else cares to share their traditional (or not) New Year's recipes. Our household has recently begun to incorporate Hoppin' John into our celebration of the holiday of changing calendars.
There is an old Southern tradition that one should "eat poor" on New Year's Day in anticipation of eating rich the rest of the year. To that end, Hoppin' John is the cat's meow. A wonderful dish of beans and rice complimented with cornbread and the greens of your choice.
Here's the basic structure of Hoppin' John:
Take a pound of dried black eyed peas and cook them until tender (some folks pre-soak, others don't)with some smoked ham hocks, smoked turkey wings, or bacon.
Throw in some chopped onion, the hot pepper of your choice, and a few cups of cooked rice. Simmer for a bit and serve with cornbread and the cooked greens that you like best. Our local store had some crappy looking collard greens but no kale or turnip greens, so we are going to have to settle for cabbage, but that's okay as long as we have sufficient ventilation to deal with the afterglow!
So, share your favorite New year's recipes here if you wish. The stores are open tomorrow and the feasting awaits!
Two notes:
First: Sorry for not being specific in my recipe measurements, but that's the way I cook.
And 'B': We may as well all enjoy the first day of the New Year, so eat up, and toast to a better future for us all!