January 2007 | Food :: Cooking
New Year’s Day Southern Style
By Jennifer Adler
In the southern United States, it is believed eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring luck for the coming year. It is said that you need to eat at least 365 black eyed peas to guarantee that you will have good luck each day of the upcoming year.
Along with the black-eyed-peas comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale or turnip greens to insure prosperity. Each portion of greens is thought to equal $1,000 worth of wealth for the coming year.
There are variations on this tradition by region. For example in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, cabbage accompanies the black-eyed peas. In Georgia turnip greens are used.
Good Luck Black Eyed Peas & Cabbage
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Serves: 4-6
1 cup black eyed peas, soaked overnight
2 bay leaves
water to cover by one inch
6-8 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces (optional)
2, 15 oz. can Muir Glenn fire roasted tomatoes with green chilies
_ green cabbage, shredded
2 teaspoons sea salt
In a large pot fry the bacon. After the bacon is crispy add the black eyed peas, water, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes or until soft enough to mash easily on the top of your mouth. Once tender add salt, tomatoes and cabbage. Cook 10 minutes more covered.
Jennifer Adler regularly eats black eyed peas and cabbage with her family in Louisiana on New Year’s Day.
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