Traditional Southern New Year’s Day Meal

Want luck, wealth and progress in the new year? Then do like my Mama says: eat black eyed peas, cabbage and pork. I know what you’re thinking, that black eyed peas taste like dirt, cabbage has no taste and pork is greasy. But channel your inner southerner and think: scattered, smothered and covered and you’re mouth will be watering.

No no, you say, that’s the Waffle House way. Well, you’re right but who can resist saying scattered, smothered and covered in your best down home twang? C’mon, say it out loud…

Ok, back to the peas…Black eyed peas are considered lucky because way back during the Civil War the town of Vicksburg, Virginia was virtually was out of food when they found some black eyed peas and were able to keep the town alive. That’s the story I’m told anyway.

Now, there are ways to make peas where they genuinely do taste like dirt and that’s no good. Epicurious.com has some very good recipes to follow – both convoluted and simple. Me, I like the straight up simple way: soak them overnight, saute up onions, garlic and celery, throw in a bay leaf and some thyme and boil them to within an inch of their little lives. The boiling makes them creamy and trust me, you’ll want creamy peas.

For the cabbage, that symbolizes wealth. Well, duh! It’s green so it must be about the money, right? You know any greens will do and you can make some deeelicious smothered greens if you want. I personally like cabbage lightly steamed and buttered – as a “lighter” compliment to the heavy peas.

Finally for the pork. It’s about bringing prosperity to your new year. You can have ham, pork roast, pork tenderloin, pickled pigs feet, roast suckling pig, pork sausages…now I’m starting to feel like Bubba from Forest Gump, but you get my drift. Any pork will do.

This meal does take some planning and will take a bit of time to cook, but it’s well worth it! Oh, and for the yang to the aforementioned yin – here’s what you don’t want to eat:

Lobster: they crawl backwards and who wants to a year of setbacks?
Chicken: it too walks backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past.
Anything winged: because your luck could fly away.

And, since I’m filling your head with useless superstition, here’s one last one…leave a little bit of food on your plate to show that you are not greedy and that your pantry will always be full.

Best wishes for the new year!

photo credit: citymama