For years now, our family has given new year's gifts to our special family and friends. I thought I'd include it here in case any of you would like to begin your own tradition. It beats having to bake cookies or bread during the busy weeks before Christmas. Why does it matter if your friends think you are ungrateful at Christmas? You will surprise them on New Year's Eve with this unusual surprise.
Ingredients:
1 bag of black-eyed peas (you can use any type of bean, but black-eyed peas are traditional)
1 bag of sweets (ideas to follow)
1 shiny new quarter (get them at the bank and attach with double-stick tape on the card)
The Card:
Our wish for you and your family:
Black-eyed Peas - That you may have luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Sweets - That your success this year will be sweet.
Quarter - That you may not begin the year penniless.
About.com had the best explanation of the black-eyed pea tradition: If you are planning to celebrate the New Year in the Southeast, it is most likely that you will be offered black-eyed peas in some form, either just after midnight or on New Year's Day. From grand gala gourmet dinners to small casual gatherings with friends and family, these flavorful legumes are traditionally, according to Southern folklore, the first food to be eaten on New Year's Day for luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead.
The practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally believed to date back to the Civil War. At first planted as food for livestock, and later a food staple for slaves in the South, the fields of black-eyed peas were ignored as Sherman's troops destroyed or stole other crops, thereby giving the humble, but nourishing, black-eyed pea an important role as a major food source for surviving Confederates.
I usually make two different sweets. Hershey's Cocoa Kiss Cookies are melt-in-your mouth delicious, with a surprise, melty chocolate kiss in the center. The recipe is on this blog. You can find it by clicking on the Phoenix Quicktime Recipes in the lefthand column of thus page. The other recipe is for Chinese Fried Walnuts and is a little work-intensive but absolutely worth it. I've included the recipe below.
Chinese Fried Walnuts
6 cups water
4 cups walnuts
½ cup sugar
¾ cup oil
1/8 tsp salt
In large saucepan, boil water. Add walnuts and bring to a boil again. Cook an additional minute then rinse under hot water and drain. While walnuts are still hot but dry, toss them with the sugar. Heat half of the oil and fry half of the walnuts until golden (5 minutes). Do not overcook in the oil or they will be bitter. Remove with slotted spoon. Place in coarse sieve to drain. Sprinkle with salt, toss to keep walnuts from sticking. Transfer to waxed paper or flat pan to cool. {Do NOT try to drain them on paper towels because they will stick to the paper as they cool and be a mess to remove.} Repeat with the remainder of oil and walnuts. Store in tightly covered container. You can also add a little pepper (to taste) when you add the salt to make them spicier.
Comments