Being the offspring of Appalacian parents, my first meal, just after midnight is blackeyed peas, hominy and pork. Growing up in this Germanic community, I had to add sauerkraut to the pork roast.

Mom used to insist we have black eyed peas. Supposed to be good luck or something. First year without her, so Happy New Year BB.

The True Story of Traditional New Year's Lucky Foods

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/12/good-...-john.html

(01-01-2015 12:17 AM)ctipton Wrote:  Being the offspring of Appalacian parents, my first meal, just after midnight is blackeyed peas, hominy and pork. Growing up in this Germanic community, I had to add sauerkraut to the pork roast.

Congrats on the good chance you have some Scots-Irish blood, that's a hardy line. I am a holiday food fan. My mom always made ham and potatoes for Christmas, and kraut with pork for New years day. My great grandparents on my Moms side were from Alsace. My wife is Italian and her family's xmas eve might be my favorite meal of the year, seven fish. The salt cod, fried smelts, tuna in red sauce, yum. Christmas day in her family is wedding soup and meat stuffed shells in a red meat gravy. It's delicious, but I have a hard time getting through the season without tasting my Mom's twice baked cheese potatoes.

I asked all my clients this year in the week leading up to Christmas, if their family celebrated Christmas and if so what meal did they associate with that. My favorite answer was a girl of Mexican heritage, she said her grandpa roasts a cow head every year, sounds delicious.

I'll never forget the first time I walked into my in-law's home and smelled baccala (salt cod), which I'm told means "smell of heaven". If heaven smells like that, I'm requesting my last trip be down.


Growing up, New Years day at our house meant a family gathering my of mom's side of the family starting just after 12 noon and featuring baked country ham, fried chicken, stewed apricots, mashed potatoes, mystery beans, scalloped potatoes, spinach, canned corn, multiple desserts and cheap New York State champagne for everyone, including the kids.

The men usually drank bourbon based mixed drinks until my mom's alcoholic brother-in-law fell asleep in whatever chair he was in That was the signal for everyone to go home, but of course he drank long and in quantity, so it usually WAS time my aunts and uncles to leave.

(01-01-2015 11:02 AM)OneUChoopsfan Wrote:  I'll never forget the first time I walked into my in-law's home and smelled baccala (salt cod), which I'm told means "smell of heaven". If heaven smells like that, I'm requesting my last trip be down.

LOL! Yes indeed. Nothing like needing 6 or 7 glasses of water to eat a meal.

Baccala is great. White, flaky, sweet and salty. But it can be bad if treated improperly. Go to Jungle Jims and handle a few sides of dried salt cod, put your nose to the task and find out which piece is the best, then take it home and soak it properly. I like to poach it and mix it with a cooked potato and a lot of of good olive oil and a bit of fresh garlic to make a spread for crackers. Lemon is on the side for the rookies that don't like the taste of fish.

Chris, it sounds like you are talking about Hoppin' John. Most sources I have seen say it comes from the southern NC and SC area is an old slave dish. Doesn't matter, Hoppin John is a bad azz way to start a new year. Hope it was good.