do you do the "BLACK EYED PEAS" superstition on New Years Day?

[greenbriar]

I don't really believe, but we do it anyway.


Friday's dinner

Black Eyed Peas
Baked Ham with brown sugar and pineapple
Mashed potatoes and Gravy


yummmmm

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I was going to skip it this year,

but my Texan husband insists.

[kentauros]

18. I'm Texan and don't do it anymore.

It's one of those traditions that just doesn't have any meaning for me. Plus, being veggie, the menu selections at any restaurant on New Year's Day isn't going to be all that veggie-friendly, nor will that be the case with the black-eyed peas as they're usually cooked with ham all over the place.

I've done my big cooking for the year (other than rum balls tonight or tomorrow) and don't want to be bothered by a (personally) meaningless tradition ;)

[Captain Hilts]

63. Make Texas Caviar - BEPs, cilantro, o&v, red onion, red sweet pepper. There you go. nt

[hobbit709]

2. don't like black-eyed peas.

[bikebloke]

3. Long ago

My grandmother would serve them. I prefer a year of bad luck to the taste of black eyed peas.

[kaiden]

4. Absolutely.

[texanwitch]

5. I like black eyed peas.

We will also have chicken fried steak.

This is Texas.

[Quantess]

6. Never heard of it. What's the origin?

Funny, I made black eyed pea soup just the other day. Delicious!

[greenbriar]

7. I don't really know. I just know that for as long as I can remember

we have had black eyed peas for New Years Day


It is supposed to bring you wealth.

The more you eat, the more you are supposed to get

[Quantess]

11. One thing for sure, the more you eat, the gassier you'll be!

The wealth part is less certain. :D

[rebel with a cause]

71. Try a little vinegar in your beans/peas

and it is suppose to cut down on the gassiness. Don't guarantee, but I have done it for years and it seems to help.

[tonekat]

76. Oh, good, just for taste I threw in a tiny splash of white basalmic vinegar

while it was cooling, good to know there are other benefits from that.

[trof]

14. Nope, peas for luck, greens for wealth.

[bigwillq]

8. No

but that menu does sound good! :)

[greenbriar]

9. thank you. I make a good ham and everyone loves my mashed

potatoes.

I don't do instant and I put extras in the potatoes when I mash them up. Very good

[bigwillq]

10. You have an extra seat at the table?

I may join you! I'll bring wine! :)

[greenbriar]

12. come on over

we have plenty of room

[trof]

13. Peas for luck, greens for money/wealth. You betcha!

One day of good fortune for each pea you eat, so make sure you eat 365.
Turnip/mustard/collard greens for MONEY!
:-)

[greenbriar]

17. oh I better get some greens then

tomorrow!

[susanr516]

74. Yes, black-eyed peas for luck

That's what I always heard--one day of good luck for every black-eyed pea you eat. Unfortunately, I will die broke because I just can't stand greens.

[trof]

15. Jewish origins?

Worldwide

The "good luck" traditions of eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day are recorded in the Babylonian Talmud (compiled ~500 CE), Horayot 12A: "Abaye said, now that you have established that good-luck symbols avail, you should make it a habit to see Qara (bottle gourd), Rubiya (black-eyed peas, Arabic Lubiya), Kartei (leeks), Silka (either beets or spinach), and Tamrei (dates) on your table on the New Year." A parallel text in Kritot 5B states that one should eat these symbols of good luck. The accepted custom (Shulhan Aruh Orah Hayim 583:1, 16th century, the standard code of Jewish law and practice) is to eat the symbols. This custom is followed by Sephardi and Israeli Jews to this day. In the United States, the first Sephardi Jews arrived in Georgia in the 1730s and have lived there continuously since. The Jewish practice was apparently adopted by non-Jews around the time of the Civil War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_pea#Cultural_references

[Sebastian Doyle]

55. I would assume they leave the ham out?

If it's a Jewish custom though, did they actually eat them on January 1, or on Rosh Hashanah?

[trof]

16. Also...The yankees did it to us.

;-)
In the American South
New Year's Day in Alabama: black-eyed peas, ham hock, and pepper sauce

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring prosperity in the Southern United States.<3> The peas are typically cooked with a pork product for flavoring (such as bacon, ham bones, fatback, or hog jowl), diced onion, and served with a hot chili sauce or a pepper-flavored vinegar.

The traditional meal also features collard, turnip, or mustard greens, and ham. The peas, since they swell when cooked, symbolize prosperity; the greens symbolize money; the pork, because pigs root forward when foraging, represents positive motion.<4> Cornbread also often accompanies this meal.

These "good luck" traditions supposedly date back to the American Civil War. Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman, typically stripped the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock, and destroyed whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" and field corn suitable only for animal fodder, and didn't steal or destroy these humble foods.<5>

[kentauros]

19. So, in other words, it has more to do with poverty and survival

than luck. Remember, too, that the South lost that war ;)

[trof]

23. Alas, many southern traditions have to do with poverty and survival.

But we struggle on.
:-)

[kentauros]

28. I'm in/from the South, too

but don't adhere to many of the traditions ;)

Although Babylon 5 taught me that any Emily Dickinson poem can be sung to the Yellow Rose of Texas :P

[El Supremo]

20. Of course!

With ham and cornbread.

And I like them!

[Arkansas Granny]

21. We do it because it's a tradition with us, not a superstition. Besides,

black eyed peas are delicious. We usually serve them with fried potatoes and cornbread.

[Phentex]

44. Same here. I'll have pork and collard greens, too.

It's a tradition for us!

[rebel with a cause]

67. Well, we are caught between the north and the south

and our tradition is great northern beans instead of the black eyed peas. It was always said that you eat poor on the new year's first day so you can eat rich the rest of the year. I had the traditional ham and beans, cornbread and cottage fried potatoes on Monday: four days early. Tomorrow I am going to eat anything we want to come up with. We have been poor for years while following the tradition. There are other cultures that eat rich on the New Year's day so that they will prosper during the year. Going to try that one this year. My daughter says I'm going to curse us, but I say that if we haven't been cursed before this sure won't do it. :rofl:

[crispini]

22. Hell yeah!

black eyed peas, greens, and ham! Yummmm........

[Demoiselle]

24. Not so much the black eyed peas...But we are firm believers in pork products.

Which is why we often do a pork and sourkraut thingie on New Year's Day. Or a baked ham with sour cherry sauce.

[greenbriar]

25. daughter's beau has German in their family and they do saurkraut

and beef.


I hadn't heard that before

[trof]

29. 'Beau'. Haven't heard that term in a long time.

Quaint and sweet.
:-)

[greenbriar]

32. well, they are past the "boyfriend, girlfriend" thing but not quite engaged yet

although if he had more money, I think he would have proposed to her at Christmas.

They are both in college and while she is living with us, he has an apartment and it pretty much takes most of his job money. The rest he spends on her...


He is a really good guy. Opens doors for her, helps her with her coat, pretty much thinks she walks on water...


I asked her if they ever fight...she said yea, but they were like me and her dad...she is like her dad and blows up and he is like me keeping things inside and trying to keep peace. LOL.


She also said that when he did things like the doors and coats, it wasn't just for show, that was how he always is. She said she felt blessed because none of her friends have ever had a guy treat them the way he treats her.

He is a real gentleman. That is all I could ever hope for.

[trof]

66. He's a rare and vanishing breed. And a keeper.

We feel the same way about our son-in-law.
They were high school sweethearts and it 'took'.
:-)

[greenbriar]

77. thanks. I think so

he even took out the trash when it got full last night. No one asked, he just did it.


He slept on the downstairs couch and when I got up this morning, he was folding blankets and straightening up.


Heck, I have family that doesn't even do that!!!

[rebel with a cause]

68. Some people here do cabbage and corn beef on New Years day.

A lot of German and other European immigrants settled here a couple of generations ago.

[GoCubsGo]

26. I prefer the Eastern European tradition...

Pickled herring at the stroke of midnight. Then there's the Italian tradition of lentils, which supposedly resemble coins for wealth.

[kentauros]

30. Maybe I should make some lentil soup then

as I've got lots! :D

[femmocrat]

35. Pork and sauerkraut is traditional ethnic fare in western PA.

We never had pickled herring--- sounds more Scandinavian!

[BuelahWitch]

38. Yep, ours was pork & sauerkraut too

My mother used to say never have chicken on New Years Day, or you'd be scratchin' for money all year.

[rebel with a cause]

70. Dang, I was going to have chicken tomorrow.

Now I will be afraid of a curse. I don't know what I am going to have now, especially if my son comes over. He don't do ham and beans, he don't do cabbage and pork, he don't do much of any kind of ethnic food except most Asian and Italian. In other words not food from the ethnic groups that we belong to.

[greenbriar]

39. Daughters Beau is from Ohio and he says that is what they do

the pork and sauerkraut


I do the Corned Beef and Sauerkraut on Saint. Patrick's day


and Fried potatoes...I LOVE fried potatoes

[GoCubsGo]

41. It's a Polish thing.

The Scandinavians eat it, as well, as do Germans. But, this is something that was always on the New Year's menu in the Polish neighborhoods in Chicago. My Polish-born granddad brought the tradition into my family.

[MilesColtrane]

27. Yes

They're served up for breakfast on New Year's day at my house.

Along with:

buttermilk biscuits
cream gravy
sausage
scrambled eggs
hash browns
fresh orange juice
and hot coffee

That's one of a very few "bad" breakfasts I have per year, and damn is it ever good.

[caitxrawks]

31. can i come to your house?

LOL my grandma cooks BEP and collard greens every single year, she has for probably 60 years now. Sometimes she makes a ham. I had a customer when I worked at Walgreens who ate ham hocks every year. I told her they sounded gross, and she looked at me like I was crazy.

[greenbriar]

33. sure come on over

the ham is big and the pot of beans will be huge!


I will have to buy more potatoes tho with you and Big Will added :)

[Fridays Child]

34. We always had blackeyed peas with coins mixed in, on New Yer's Day.

If there was a superstition involved, though, I never knew it. Oh, and ham, too--blackeyed peas and ham, every year. Hated the blackeyed peas but loved finding the nickels, dimes, and quarters.
:)

[Captain Hilts]

59. $$$ mixed in?????

[Fridays Child]

61. Yes, exactly. This is what our family did when I was little.

Probably not something I'd ever consider doing with my own little kids but there it is.

[Captain Hilts]

62. That's a riot, and we might have been more enthusiastic about eating them. Since then ...

I've learned to like them if I soak them myself. I like "Texas caviar." It's a good salad with them.

[rcrush]

36. I HATE Blacked Eyed fucking Peas!

I remember new years day when I was a kid. "EAT THE FUCKING PEAS!" Me "NO! THEY ARE GROSS" Mom "EAT BLACK EYED PEAS! IT'S GOOD LUCK! DO IT NOW!"

Me "Thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard! They are gross!" Mom "EAT FUCKING PEAS!#(*$%)(#*%)#*%)#"

[GoCubsGo]

43. Maybe the dip recipe I have will change your mind about them.

It's very warm and very cheesey.

1-1/4 c. dried black-eyed peas
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, sliced
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp. chili powder
1-1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 bunch scallions, sliced

Place peas in heavy medium saucepan. Add water, cover to 2". Let stand 30 min. Drain. Add water, cover to 2", add salt and 1 garlic clove. Boil until peas are very tender, about 1 hour. Add more water if necessary. Drain, blend with cream cheese, cayenne, remaining garlic. Top with cheddar cheese and bake until heated through. Sprinkle with sliced scallions.

The recipe doesn't give a baking temperature, but something 350-375F should be adequate.

The bag of peas I have now has a black-eyed pea hummus recipe. I might have to give that a try...

[greenbriar]

46. yum

sounds good

[WolverineDG]

37. Yes

Ham, black-eyed peas, & corn bread. :9

dg

[S n o w b a l l]

40. Yes, usually.

Pork roast, black eyed peas and fresh sauteed spinach with butter and garlic.

I don't really believe either but do it anyway.

[ashling]

42. I strongly object to this important

and dignified tradition being referred to in this decidedly undignified manner. I will have you know that eating blackeyed peas on New Year's Day is not only a highly respected tradition, it is important to do follow this well known method of securing good fortune - just to be safe.

I realize that there are a lot of other folks who include collards or some other green or other food in ths tradition, but the efficacy of these items is entirely apocryphal, though I would certainly not want to discourage anyone from engaging in whatever time honored ritual they should choose to engage in - for instance, my fourth cousin twice removed on my mother's side . . . well, you don't really want to know that.

Anyway, get to work fixin your blackeyed wonders, and Happy New Year!

[TheCentepedeShoes]

45. In the form of

Texas Caviar, in the fridge right now
Gonna get take out cfs tomorrow

[yewberry]

47. Sort of, if you count the Yankee vegetarian version

I make a decent Hoppin John and we have braised greens with it. I'm thinking sauteed mushrooms might be good alongside, but I'm still deciding on the side dish.

My husband (Seattle native) had never heard of the tradition until he realized that his strange wife (New Englander) was serving the same thing every New Years' and thought to ask why. It's fun and it's good, so why not?

[vixengrl]

48. Italians do lentils and cotechino--some of them.

The ones I married into do. But I'm doing lentils minus the cotechino (which is a shame, because I love the thick, gelatinous flavor of cotechino but it is hard to come by) but with bacon. But it's the same idea, I think. It seems to mean, if you can afford beans and meat now, you should be alright the rest of the year. And pork and beans just tastes good. Also, we might roast sweet potatoes--just salt, and a little rosemary, nothing else--that is the best way.

[Captain Hilts]

49. Oh yeah. nt

[Wapsie B]

50. No just some Smashing Pumpkins to start out

and a little Anthrax to ring in the new year.

[J-Lo Biafra]

51. Pork, dumplings and sauerkraut for this Slav.

:D

[greenbriar]

52. how do you make your dumplings

I love them and haven't made some in quite some time

[J-Lo Biafra]

53. Usually just flour, water & salt,

but every now and then, they're made out of leftover mashed potatoes. I don't know the exact recipe- my mate usually makes them. :)

[KT2000]

54. Scared not to

but I actually like black eyed peas.
Can't imagine what things would be like if I didn't have them on New Years. :scared:

[Lindsey]

56. I grew up in the South so it's a must for me. I've never gone

a year in my life without eating a bowl full (I expect when I was a baby my mom & grandmother smashed up them for me). The bonus is that
I really like them.

[old mark]

57. We do the PA Dutch version of this - any sort of pork dinner is supposed to be good luck

for the New Year.

We're making Puerto Rican roast pork (Pernil), coconut rice with pineapple and some sort of green vegie to be determined.
The pork recipe requires 12 cloves of garlic, lots of oregano, wine or orange juice. The roast is marinated in all this plus olive oil overnight.


mark

[Callalily]

58. Yup, will be making

black eyed pea soup tomorrow. I typically do some "good luck" meal, it's a nice tradition.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

60. I hate Boom Boom Pow but I like I Gotta Feeling

:hide:

[Captain Hilts]

64. Perhaps listening to the Black Eyed Peas is a bit of a substitute.

[tammywammy]

65. Peas for money and cabbage for luck

It's the only time of the year that I'll eat cabbage that's not just in coleslaw.

[Lex]

72. collard greens, not cabbage

is what we always had

[begin_within]

69. Our neighbors have a big party for this tradition.

They cook a huge pot of black eyed peas and another one of greens. I'm not sure what kind of greens it is but they are very bitter. I only eat a couple of beans and one tiny piece of the greens. They are supposed to bring luck and money in the new year. It's supposed to be a "Southern tradition" and I guess technically San Diego is in the south, but they are the only people in San Diego that I know of who do this. It's an open house and potluck, everybody brings a dish to share, so there are like 50 other things to eat too. I baked a huge flan today, the first time I have ever made flan. The party goes for 4 hours in the afternoon and there is live music and you can dance if you want, but most people just eat and socialize. It's always a lot of fun. I have gone to that party the last 4 years and always eaten at least a few black-eyed peas and one bit of the greens, but sadly, it has never brought me luck or money.

[blogslut]

73. I bought mine today

Canned. I know I should make them from fresh but screw it. I'm an old lady living alone and I actually like the taste of canned black-eyed peas. I was shocked to find some still on the store shelf. I'm kind of bummed that I forgot to buy turnip greens because I love them too, even canned. I'll serve the peas with a couple of squished corned beef hash sandwiches made on my George Foreman grill. Not in any way fancy but tasty and filling. A tangerine or two for dessert. Good eats for the new year.

:hi:

[greenbriar]

75. how do you serve your turnip greens

I have never fixed them

[blogslut]

81. Sorry for the delayed response

I pretty much slept through the day after having been up all night.

I really really love turnip greens so I prepare them to highlight the flavor. That usually involves simply a bit of butter and lemon pepper. When I was growing up I was used to canned, prepared greens with turnip chunks that we enhanced with a few shots from a bottle of Bruce's Tabasco Peppers in vinegar. When I want to be really fancy I'll cook fresh greens in chicken broth.

I like them canned, frozen or cooked from fresh but I don't really do a lot to them. Other people boil them with hamhocks or bacon. Turnip greens are my second main ingredient in my guaranteed-to-cure-your-cold chicken soup. :)

[greenbriar]

82. sounds good

thank you

[DevonRex]

78. BE peas, greens, ham, cornbread and buttermilk. God only knows

what kind of year it would be without them on January 1st. :scared:

[greenbriar]

79. hubby likes buttermilk

me not so much

[greenbriar]

80. well, it is all over

and the dishes are in the dishwasher



Hope everyone had a great New Years Day