Traditions…

There are some things you just DON’T mess with…

Cure 81 ham, hoppin john, turnip greens, and corn bread. A Southern tradition that I’m keeping…

Hoppin john

Well, except the greens didn’t turn out well…

Hoppin’ John is a peas and rice dish served in the Southern United States. It is made with black-eyed peas and rice, chopped onion, sliced bacon, and seasoned with a bit of salt. Some people add celery, green peppers and spices. Smaller than black-eyed peas, field peas are used in the Low Country of South Carolina and Georgia; black-eyed peas are the norm elsewhere.

In the southern United States, eating Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. The peas are symbolic of pennies or coins, and a coin is sometimes added to the pot or left under the dinner bowls. Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, chard, kale, cabbage etc. along with this dish are supposed to also add to the wealth since they are the color of American currency. Another traditional food, cornbread, can also be served to represent wealth, being the color of gold. On the day after New Year’s Day, leftover “Hoppin’ John” is called “Skippin’ Jenny,” and further demonstrates one’s frugality, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year.

I just happen to like it… And it’s good and filling too!

And there was dessert…

dessertFresh blueberries and ice cream.

Here’s hoping 2015 is better for all of us!  Now it’s time for some football!!!

 

Comments

Traditions… — 20 Comments

  1. Looks good. My mom still makes Navy beans-and-ham with fresh corn bread on this day. We’re having our beans differently this year, with a fresh batch of chili.

    But the corn bread remains on the menu, or I’m walkin’. 🙂

  2. A good tradition, and one that I love the taste of. May it bring y’all a year full of a wealth of good friends and true.

  3. Cure 81 ham in the oven.
    Side dishes with be ‘taters and carrots.
    Biscuits too!
    Will eat right after I pick up m-in-law from the home.

  4. Hey Old NFO,

    Here in Georgia, we basically do the same thing….but there is a brand of greens you can buy from the store called “Glory Foods”, they season the turnips, collard or what ever other green you need…also they do black eye peas… Hope all have a happy new year.

  5. Dinner was going to be chicken and dumplings, but someone forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer last night – so we’re having carne asada tacos with all the trimmings.

  6. Rev- That works! 🙂

    Tim- That’s not bad either! And a little Tabasco spices it up rather nicely! 😀

    Dammit- That would be a nice bonus! 🙂

    Robert- It was! And will be again tomorrow! 🙂

    Ed- Sorry bout that!

    LL- No sir, it doesn’t! Other than wishing I was sharing it with family or friends…

    Stretch- NO beans??? 😀

    Bob- Ironically, they don’t carry them in the Commissary… At least then the greens would have been okay!

    Brigid- Sounds like a win to me! 🙂

    Ed- Oh yeah, gas and then some!!!

    • Jim: re. beans. Not with the … um … gastrointestinal issues my in-laws have.

      Ed: My Pennsylvania Dutch relatives insist the ONLY New Year’s Day meal is pork roast, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes.

  7. We had our traditional new years dinner of spiral cut honey baked ham, black eyed peas, homemade Mac and cheese, and collards from the garden. I was as stuffed as a full tick. Now vegging watching college football. How you been?

  8. A friend of Japanese ancestry has been making Zōni (雑煮) for me for the last several years as it’s traditionally consumed on New Year’s Day. It’s a miso, fish broth, or chicken broth base with mochi and whatever else you choose to add. We’ve been having it with greens, chicken, and lotus root. Since my friend was sick this year I hosted a New Year’s party and made my own version to serve after a champagne toast.

  9. I confess that I’m a lousy ‘southerner’, having only discovered Hopping John only two years ago. And I’m already over 50 years old. Saw a can of Margaret Holmes in the grocery store, tried it and love it – bring it on!

    I’m going to have a can of it tonight if I remember – Thanks!

  10. Stretch- Understood! Sauerkraut does that to me! :-0

    Senior- Doing the same!

    Skip- Food is food!!!

    R- That is an interesting meal!

    j.r.- No problem, and home-made is a LOT better!

  11. The only part of the South I’m from is southern Rhode Island so we stick with the old time Yankee supper of Fried cod fish, filets and tongues, and Johnny cakes, a type of cornmeal bread. These are loaded with what ever condiment you care to apply. Mine is,butter and peanut butter loaded on one after the other. Maple syrup, sorghum, or blackstrap molasses also go well. Now I’m hungry again! Damn!!

    Have a great year and get back at the #3! Everett

  12. Cure 81 is the ham we like too. Never heard of hoppin’ john, sound pretty good since I love black eyed peas. May have to give it a try. One can never go wrong with corn bread.

  13. Ev- LOL, Sorghum and blackstrap ARE Southern… 🙂 And yowza boss, I be gettin’ back to work.

    Randy- Yep, grew up eating it, and still like it! There are some good recipes for hoppin’ John on the net.