Here in the South we eat certain things for certain holidays. I don't remember eating the things on New Years Day as I eat now and cannot remember when I started these customs. Most Southerners eat black eyed peas for luck and something green-supposedly so you will have more money in the coming year. I guess maybe it works, I always seem to have enough to live on! Anyway it is fun to prepare these foods as most of it is a once a year time to eat them.
Black Eyed Peas have to soak for 5 to 8 hours, with the water changed several times.While the peas are soaking I boil the hambone left over from the Christmas ham-along with celery, onions, and garlic. Afterward the broth is strained and the peas are cooked in this. More garlic and onions, as well as a can of Rotel tomatoes are added. When the peas are almost done, I add about 1 and 1/2 cups of uncooked rice to the 1 pound bag of peas.I also add about two Tablespoons of butter and some cajun seasoning and salt.
I always pull out my grandmothers old pots to cook this in-now that I think of it she cooked this at New Years, so that's where I got the idea, besides she was a fabulous Southern cook.I always serve the peas/rice with cornbread-sorry not homemade-I am not that good-I use Jiffy mix. Also a big bowl of hand cut coleslaw. Did you know that hand chopping your cabbage tastes sooo much better than if it is chopped in a food processor-don't know why-but try it, I think you will agree. This makes way more food than the two of us can eat, so I freeze the leftovers for later.What are the food customs where you live, or is this just a southern thing? I hope you all have a wonderful lucky, prosperous New Year-whatever you eat!
Black Eyed Peas have to soak for 5 to 8 hours, with the water changed several times.While the peas are soaking I boil the hambone left over from the Christmas ham-along with celery, onions, and garlic. Afterward the broth is strained and the peas are cooked in this. More garlic and onions, as well as a can of Rotel tomatoes are added. When the peas are almost done, I add about 1 and 1/2 cups of uncooked rice to the 1 pound bag of peas.I also add about two Tablespoons of butter and some cajun seasoning and salt.
I always pull out my grandmothers old pots to cook this in-now that I think of it she cooked this at New Years, so that's where I got the idea, besides she was a fabulous Southern cook.I always serve the peas/rice with cornbread-sorry not homemade-I am not that good-I use Jiffy mix. Also a big bowl of hand cut coleslaw. Did you know that hand chopping your cabbage tastes sooo much better than if it is chopped in a food processor-don't know why-but try it, I think you will agree. This makes way more food than the two of us can eat, so I freeze the leftovers for later.What are the food customs where you live, or is this just a southern thing? I hope you all have a wonderful lucky, prosperous New Year-whatever you eat!
