Hi Myrna,

Yes, traditions vary from culture to culture, but there are striking similarities in what's consumed in different pockets of the world. One of the most unusual that I've heard of is that New Year's revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight—one grape for each stroke of the clock. This dates back to 1909, when grape growers in the Alicante region of Spain initiated the practice to take care of a grape surplus.

In the Southern United States, it's traditional to eat black-eyed peas or cowpeas in a dish called hoppin' john. There are even those who believe in eating one pea for every day in the new year. This all traces back to the legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Virginia, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas and the legume was thereafter considered lucky. In the South, we've always eaten a lot of Pork and New Years is no different. The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving

I happen to love pork and sauerkraut, so here's a quick Crockpot recipe that I like a lot.

1 pork roast (3 to 5 lb.)
2 cans sauerkraut (large)
1 apple, chopped
1 sm onion, sliced

In crockpot, mix 1 1/2 cans sauerkraut, apple and onion slices. Place pork on top, cover with remaining sauerkraut. Add just a little water (maybe 1/2 cup). Cook 6 to 8 hours on low. It's delicious served with buttered noodles (wide).

Hello Friends,

For anyone who is like me, and looks forward all year to a great meal on New Years Day, here's

A Traditional Southern Style New Years Day Meal

A New Year's Day Dinner, with skillet cornbread, easy seasoned mustard greens, spicy black-eyed peas, hot cooked rice, and a wonderful peach upside-down cake. Enjoy this delicious meal, sure to bring you good luck in the coming year.

Spicy Southern Black-Eyed Peas

Use salt pork or hog jowl in this delicious traditional New Year's Day dish, also known as Hoppin' John. Black-eyed peas, along with greens and cornbread, are eaten on New Year's Day for good luck throughout the year.

• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas
• 4 ounces salt pork, rind removed, diced, or thick bacon or hog jowl, diced
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 to 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced, optional
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced, optional
• 1 tablespoon Creole or Cajun seasoning mixture
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• ground hot pepper, optional, to taste

Preparation

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, sauté the diced salt pork with onion until onion is browned.

Combine salt pork and onions with the drained peas and remaining ingredients; Add water just to cover. Simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until tender, checking and adding a little more water if necessary. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Serve with hot boiled rice, spinach or other greens, and freshly baked skillet cornbread.

Serves 6 to 8.

Hot Boiled Rice

2-quart saucepan

water

salt

1 cup long-grained rice

Preparation

1. In a 2-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring 2 cups of water seasoned with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a rolling boil.
2. Pour in 1 cup of long-grain rice.
3. Reduce heat to low.
4. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Do not stir.
5. Remove from heat and leave covered until serving time.
6. Fluff with a fork just before serving.
7. This will make about 4 servings.

Tips

1. If your rice is done but there's excess water, drain using a colander.
2. For flavored rice, use chicken, vegetable, or other broth in place of the liquid.

Quick and Easy Mustard Greens

Tasty mustard greens are made with frozen mustard greens. Use less bacon and add some leftover diced ham, if you'd like to have the smoked ham flavor.

• 10 to 12 slices bacon, diced
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 16 ounces frozen mustard greens
• water
• diced cooked ham, optional
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, seasoned salt, or salt, or to taste
• dash red pepper, optional
• dash black pepper, to taste
• 1 to 2 tablespoons butter

Preparation

Put chopped mustard greens in a medium saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. Add bacon and onion, along with ham, if using. Toss with seasonings and butter to taste.
Serves 4 to 6.

Delicious Buttermilk Cornbread

Preparation

In another bowl, whisk buttermilk and milk with eggs and melted butter. Gradually fold milk mixture into dry ingredients, folding and mixing just until all dry ingredients are moist.

Using oven mitts or potholders, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven; swirl slightly so oil coats sides of pan. Pour batter into the skillet then return to oven. Reduce heat to 350°. Bake cornbread for 35 to 45 minutes, until it pulls away from sides of pan and is lightly browned.
Cut into squares or wedges.

Peach and Coconut Upside-Down Cake

This cake is absolutely delicious. Serve the cake warm, with or without a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and expect plenty of "oohs" and "aahs." Once you carefully invert the hot cake onto a serving platter, try not to move it again. It is no less delicious, but it will probably break up if you try to move the whole cake or a very large portion of it.

Ingredients

• 1 large can or jar (24 to 29 ounces) peach slices in light or regular syrup
• 8 tablespoons butter (4 ounces)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon reserved syrup from peaches
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (4 ounces)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (stir lightly before measuring)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup milk

Preparation

Drain peaches, reserving 2 tablespoons of the syrup. Melt the 8 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch square baking pan. Stir in brown sugar, reserved syrup, and coconut. Spread to evenly cover bottom. Arrange peach slices, cut side up, over coconut mixture.

In mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened butter until light. Beat in granulated sugar until fluffy. Add eggs; blend well. Blend in vanilla.
Into another bowl, measure flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat dry ingredients into the first mixture, alternating with milk. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Spoon batter evenly over peaches then spread to cover. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out with no cake batter clinging. Cool in pan for 5 to 8 minutes before inverting onto serving plate. To invert onto saving plate; gently run a knife along sides so no cake will cling to sides of pan, then cover the cake pan with the serving plate. Using pot holders and both hands, carefully turn the whole thing over so the cake will easily drop onto the plate in one piece. It might still be a little messy and gooey, so you could keep a cookie sheet on your work area until the cake is safely on the platter. Slice and serve warm, with whipped topping or ice cream if desired.
Serves 6 to 8.

Be Blessed My Friends,

Phil

Hi Phil,

Thank you for all those recipes, I plan on trying them sometime, especially that cornbread it sounds yummy. The one I make is always too dry, so am looking forward to trying this one. II think it will be good with pork and sauerkraut too.

Myrna

Hi Myrna,

Glad you liked the recipes. That's one thing that my stay in the Hospital didn't take away - my appetite. I love to cook and I love to eat!

As I've said many times, I thank God daily that I'm still here with my Friends & Family and looking forward to yet another year of opportunities. Opportunities to Love, opportunities to bring Smiles & Laughter, and most of all, opportunities to Praise His Name. Here's a Poem which I didn't write, but it just says it better...

Another Year for Thee

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee!

Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast,
Of even deeper trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness,
In the shining of Thy face.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise;
Another year of proving
Thy presence "all the days."

Another year of service,
Of witness to Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning!
Dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee!

From Heart Blessings

Compiled by Dale Crowley

Each moment in a day has its own value.
Morning brings HOPE,
Afternoon brings FAITH,
Evening brings LOVE,
Night brings REST,
Hope you will have all of them everyday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.

Phil

Hey Phil,

Just wanted to drop by and wish you a very happy New Year! I enjoyed reading all of the ways the different cultures have celebrated the new year.

Yes, old things have passed away & new things have come! You have shared so much information and the thing I appreciate the most is you sharing your faith in Christ.

Also, I'm going to try your crock pot recipe this week with the pork roast and sauerkraut. That sounds really good to me and we are going to be in for one of the coldest weeks ever later in the week here. I can just smell it already.

Being a Texas girl, of course black-eyed peas are a must for many southerners, & it's something my mom would never not have on New Years day (for me...I can do with or without them & I must admit that I didn't have any this year).


Thank you for blessing me! Many blessings to you and family Phil.

Cheryl