original picture from MzScarlett via Flickr

One of my New Year’s must haves is Black Eyed Peas.

Maybe it’s just a Texas thing but down here, you must have Black Eyed Peas as one of your New Year’s foods for Good Luck and a prosperous New Year. It’s so deeply bred into us Texans  that even my husband who won’t touch black eyed peas with a 10 foot pole normally, will eat a bite or two on New Years Day

What do you think? Superstition or Tradition?

Black Eyed Peas

• 3 C Dried Black Eyed Peas
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 lb salt pork, 1″ pieces
• 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)
• 5 C water
• dash salt
• pinch pepper

1. Soak the dried peas in enough water to cover for a minimum of 3 hrs, best if overnight.
2. Drain the peas and place in a large pot with the onion and salt pork and jalapeno.
3. Add 5 C water and bring to a boil.
4. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I threw it out on Twitter and the adorable and inspirational Casey told me that she has to say “Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit” right after midnight.

What do you think?

Superstition or Tradition?

The Twitter query also led the amazing OhMommy to comment about her need to eat Cabbage for good luck on New Year’s.

In case you didn’t know it, she’s nearly world blogosphere famous for her Cabbage recipe.

After much groveling and pleading she has agreed to share her recipe with us.

• 1/4 C butter
• 1/2 C onion, chopped
• 4 C cabbage, thinly sliced and chopped
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper to taste
• 1 (8oz) package egg noodles
• Dash Dill weed (optional)
• 1/2 C sour cream (optional)

1. Melt butter in large skillet, add onion and saute until transparent.
2. Add cabbage and cook about 5 minutes until tender, but still crisp.
3. Stir in caraway seeds, salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, cook noodles until tender (al dente) drain well.
5. Stir noodles into cabbage and cook 5 more minutes, stir often.
6. At this point you can add the Dill Weed to taste and the sour cream.
7. OhMommy uses the Dill Weed, but not the sour cream.