New Year's Good Luck Meal--Southern Black-eyed Peas with a Twist!

Ever wondered where the southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year's Day began?  Well, here you go! 

According to lore, during the Civil War, the Yankees pillaged and plundered the south until there was little left for southerners to eat except for black-eyed peas and greens. The  south survived and thrived on these nutrient rich, common foods and today they are a staple we love to enjoy anytime.  Add some cornbread-another southern staple-and a fortunate New Year is almost guaranteed!

 Try this healthy black-eyed pea salsa/side dish we call "Cowboy Caviar". There are many variations. This is ours.

                                                            Cowboy Caviar
                                                         The Goodnight Way

1 can whole corn, drain half the juice
1 can black-eyed peas, drain half the juice
1 bell pepper, diced (The red or yellow ones make it pretty, but green will do.)
½ cup green onions, diced (any onion will do)
1 medium tomato, diced
1 tsp. minced garlic

Optional: If you like spicy, add a chopped jalepeno.

Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Dressing
½ cup vinegar
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup oil

Mix the sugar and vinegar together until the sugar melts. Then add the oil and mix well. Pour over the vegetables, stir and chill for about an hour until the flavors get well acquainted. Can be made the night before. Serve as a cold side dish or as a dip with tortilla chips or Fritos.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY  AND PROSPEROUS 2015!

Orange Slice Treats and an Old Fashioned Christmas

 So, I was at our little bitty, local IGA yesterday—love this store--and ran across the old fashioned candies I remember from childhood. Frankly, I never liked the taste but I LOVE the smell so I bought some. They smell like Christmas to me.
As I was talking to the checker, she told me this recipe. I’ve yet to try it, but it’s simple and yummy looking and adds a festive attitude to the plain old forerunner to gummy bears. Let me know if you try it.

                                                              Orange Slice Treats
Orange slice candies
Powdered sugar
Pecans, chopped or ground
Put candy in microwavable bowl and microwave until soft. Twenty seconds is plenty in my microwave. Immediately, place the candy between slices of plastic wrap, waxed paper or parchment paper and roll out until flat. Dip in powdered sugar and then in pecans.
Let cool and enjoy!

YUM UPDATE:  A marvelous Facebook friend gave me an even better idea! Cut the orange slices in half lengthwise and dip in melted dark chocolate.  Oh, yeah!




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Christmas Traditions

We have a Christmas tradition at our  house that I dearly love. It started a few years ago, sort of spontaneously. We'd always baked a cake and sung happy birthday to Jesus but one year my older daughter, Sundy, came up with a twist on the idea. We generally have around 20 or 30 people at our house for Christmas dinner and frankly, by the time we eat, no one wants a big piece of cake. So my girls bake mini-cupcakes, spelling out "Happy Birthday, Jesus" with a letter on each tiny cake.  While everyone is still gathered in the living room, we put a candle in each cupcake and pass one out to each person. Then we light the candles, turn off the lights and sing to Jesus.

What traditions -old or new- do you keep in your family?