Most cultures have some specific food you eat to welcome the new year and ensure luck/fortune/prosperity for the duration. Some people eat long noodles to symbolize a long life or food with names like what they want to bring about. In the southern US people eat a black-eyed pea dish called Hoppin' John. The black-eyed peas look kinda like coins, and it's often eaten with greens (the color of money) all adding up to a dish that should bring prosperity in the new year. Hoppin' John happens to be the tradition I've taken on; a little prosperity can't hurt, and the food really helps settle the morning after stomach. I have been trying to make a Hoppin' John that doesn't taste like dirt (black-eyed peas have a lovely if quite earthy flavor) for three years now, and have finally succeeded!
This serves 4-6 people as a meal
- 3 cups black-eyed peas
- 4 cups broth
- 3 strips bacon
- one medium onion
- healthy pinch red pepper flakes
- a handful fresh spinach per person
- put peas in a large bowl and just cover in water
- using kitchen shears cut bacon into small pieces over a large heavy-bottomed pot
- cook bacon in pot until crispy
- dice onion
- pour off excess bacon grease and add onion to pot
- cook onion until translucent
- add peas & pepper and stir thoroughly
- add broth (I used chicken) and simmer gently until peas reach desired doneness (3-4 hours)
- rinse and roughly chop spinach
- fill each bowl 2/3 with the fresh spinach
- top with hot Hoppin' John and a pat of butter
- enjoy, make a resolution to be less hung-over next year
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