I was born and raised in the Deep South in the United States (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi). Even though I no longer live in that area, I still prepare the Southern traditional New Year's Day meal. This meal is suppose to bring you luck throughout the rest of the year. Why take a chance on having an unlucky year by not preparing the good luck meal of my youth?
Yesterday (New Year's Day), my menu consisted of the followng:
Black Eyed Peas (for luck)
Mustard Greens (for money)
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Fried Pork Chops
Cornbread
Deep Dish Apple Crumb Pie
I should be very lucky and have lots of money throughout the rest of 2010!
I usually have Christmas Dinner on New Years Day with my mom and brothers.
ReplyDeleteTurkey of course
Hungarian stuffing-paprika instead of sage, absolutely delicious
whipped potatoes
candied carrots
corn
and whatever else we throw out
Where are you from, Candy?
ReplyDeleteThis is a comment from an author friend of mine, Nina Osier, who tried twice to post a comment and Blogger wouldn't let her.
ReplyDelete(Nina's PS is in answer to my asking if anyone puts sugar in their greens when they cook them. My mother always did).
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Well, I tried twice to comment and Blogspot ate it twice!
I've lived in Maine all my life - born on the coast, moved to this area at age 6. The only tradition I ever heard of was the "Watch Night" service on New Year's Eve at some of the churches (haven't heard about one being held in recent years, though). I made a lovely baked ham on New Year's Day this year, but I did that because I was snowed in and felt like cooking something good.
Best,
Nina
P.S.: I love both mustard greens and collard greens! And turnip greens, too. Don't care for black-eyed peas. None of the women in my family has ever, as far as I know, added sugar or anything else when cooking greens. People add butter and/or vinegar to their individual servings, and that's all the enhancement greens get.