Do you have the traditional New Year's meal at your house? The ham hock thing, the black eyed peas, collards, cornbread? I would guess if you live in the south you do this. Maybe even in other parts as well. I have a vegetarian and a vegan living with me, so things have to get adjusted a bit with this menu.
Yesterday, to keep myself busy while I waited on Wesley's plane to arrive, I made a pot of black eyed peas, using home made vegetable stock instead of the ham or bacon seasoning. Just as good. I have also got a sourdough starter going and made sourdough bread, although I'm not a fan of kneading bread for 15 minutes and I think I am going to ditch the sour dough for my tried and true artisan bread recipe that is quick and easy and way better tasting.
To change things up a bit from the traditional new year's menu, I made a kale salad from this recipe
http://www.marthastewart.com/1050705/dr-weils-kale-salad. We went to Pizzeria Toro with our friends Bob and Laura the other night and they had the most amazing kale salad. I came home and searched for a recipe that would come close, this one is it, although if you make it, cut back on the lemon juice a tad bit.
I also googled around for some interesting new year's meals and found this noodle bowl recipe:
It was really yummy! Try it!
Laura gave me a new beer cozy, how do you like it? Cute, right? So, dinner was great, Wesley is home from California, all snug in her bed right now. The house is quiet, Gerry went climbing with some old climbing buddies today, (one of them in his 70's, go Dawson!). I'm having coffee in a new mug from my pal Meredith, the chickens are squawking their news of eggs they just laid, they are always so proud of this achievement. I'm enjoying the last of our Christmas tree here in the quiet of the morning. The tree is dry and the branches drooping farther and farther to the ground, it will have to come down this weekend.
I called my mom yesterday. Her voice sounded very weak and her breath labored. I will have to go down next week. I know me not coming around for Christmas has made her sad, but you make your bed, and you lie in it. I have to guard my sanity so my family doesn't suffer the agony of my issues with this holiday. All I can say is thank God another Christmas is past and I have a whole year before I have to face another one.
One last thought..... iPad Insomnia. Yep. I have it. I haven't slept more than two or three hours a night in over two years. I have been reading about how the iPad/iphone light can disrupt sleep patterns so I started leaving my iPad downstairs at night. I usually take it to bed with me and read for awhile. Instead I have been taking a book that Lazarus gave me to bed and reading that. Guess what? I have slept for five nights in a row, all night. Whoop! Sleep! what a wonderful thing it is! I am still waking at 4am to let the cat out, then the hateful neighbor's rooster starts crowing at 5am, but still. I sleep from 11pm-4am. Thats a bunch of sleep when you haven't had any in a long time. After five nights of sleep I took my iPad to bed again, and I didn't sleep all night, tossed and turned. Me and my iPad are breaking up. Its just going to be my day friend now.
I hope all of you had a fun New Year's celebration. Here we go, another one..... 2015. Are you ready?
xo
9 comments:
I had my black-eyed peas yesterday too! I'm a Pennsylvanian, born and bred, but my maternal grandparents lived in Mississippi for awhile and brought back the New Year's dish. My grandma did it with sausage, my mom added stewed tomatoes {heresy, I know} and now I skip the sausage, add a Parmesan cheese,pop it in the oven and so good! Around here the New Year's dish is pork and sauerkraut which Mom also made.
Glad that Wesley's home safely, the hens are happy, and that you had a good holiday season.
Belated but very best wishes to all of you -
Mary
May you all have a very happy new year.We had an older very judgmental woman in the family.We finally decided we were not going to give her any power over us.We did not shun her but when she started in on people, we just didn't engage.We learned just to get up and leave when necessary. No more fighting no more feeling frustrated.It didn't change her but it changed how we reacted and that really helped us.
Hey Mary, I love the idea of parmesan with black eyed peas, will have to try that. Happy New Year to you!
Dennis, I think that is the best way. Not engaging gives no fuel to the fire. There is no changing people, we can only change ourselves, if we want to change!
Happiest of New Years to you!
We have a modified New Year meal as well. I am not a fan of black eyed peas or collards on their own. Jeff turns it into a soup with Italian sausage, tomatoes, and this year added some arugula with the collards. This I can eat and enjoy!
Glad your holidays were easier to bear this year.
Yeah, Michele, thats a meal!
A dear friend, who's gone now, used to always have us over for black-eyed peas every New Year's, I'd forgotten about that, thanks. We're down w/relatives, mom's last night- I thought of you in the middle of it. Yes, taking care of ourselves is the better choice. Wishing you & yours a very happy new year!
I love kale! Thanks for the recipe, will be giving it a go - looks delish.
Love the beer cosy!
I read something similar about iPads, kindles etc. disrupting sleep patterns and prefer to read (paper) books - for as long as I can keep my eyes open before they fall on me :)
Happy to read all's well in your wonderful corner of the world. May it continue to be a great year for you guys :)
"Tracey Broome" has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.
http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-sunday-drive.html
Great post. Happy 2015.
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