HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
If you live in Texas, most likely you’ll eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck. Ever wonder where that superstition/tradition comes from? Well, according to my research, most think it dates back to the Civil War when Union soldiers raided the Confederates food supply and took everything except the peas and salted pork. The Confederates considered themselves lucky to be left with any food at all. Those meager supplies helped them survive the winter. Therefore, the peas became a symbol of luck.
My family has always eaten black-eyes and cornbread to start the New Year. However, I came across some other interesting traditions concerning good luck. Some believe you should cook the peas with a new dime or penny. The person who receives the coin in their portion will double their luck. Others say to eat exactly 365 peas. Any amount over or under will result in that many days of bad luck. Some say to leave one remaining pea on your plate to indicate sharing your luck with someone else. Not sure how they determine who that “someone” is…the person to the right or left? Also, it’s said if you don’t eat the entire amount of peas you put on your plate, you will also suffer bad luck.
There were other superstitions saying if you don’t eat collard greens and cornbread along with the peas, good luck won’t stick. Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing wrong! Not really. Luck comes in all forms. Not just winning the lottery. I’m happy 80% of the time…and healthy. That’s pretty lucky.
Below, find a great recipe for Black-eyed Pea Soup. It’s one of our favorites. I hope you’ll try it. But…if you follow tradition or not, I wish you countless blessings in 2019!
Black-eyed Pea Soup
From Fredericksburg, Texas Peach Tree Tea Room
1-medium onion, chopped
4-slices bacon diced
2-teaspoons garlic, minced
1-green bell pepper, chopped
12 cups water
2-10 ounce cans Rotel tomatoes (I use mild)
1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
2-teaspoons salt
6-carrots, peeled and sliced
2 -cups ham, cooked and diced (I buy deli ham and have it thick sliced)
In a large stock pot, saute the onions, bacon & garlic
Add the bell pepper, water, Rotel tomatoes, pepper, peas, salt, and carrots.
Cook until the peas are tender.
Add Ham and cook about 15-20 minutes more until carrots are tender.
May garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
