HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 – eating a lucky meal

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Hi there,

There are many foods eaten on New Year’s Day that represent good luck to those who eat them. In certain parts of the country, Black Eyed Peas, Greens, and Cornbread. Pennies, Dollars, and Gold grace many tables.  Others eat Fish for Abudance, Noodles for Longevity or Rice for Fertility and Wealth.

In our home, we eat pork with sauerkraut to progress forward in the new year, and we eat 12 grapes for good luck every month of the new year.

I can’t guarantee that eating my pork and sauerkraut will give you good luck in 2023, but I can guarantee that you will enjoy your New Year’s Day dinner.

 You can find the recipe for this delicious meal at https://newclassicrecipe.com/2021/12/29/happy-new-year-what-we-eat-for-good-luck/

Over the past year, I have started to experiment with cooking different types of heirloom beans. My source for those beans has been Rancho Gordo, http://ranchogordo.com. I can vouch for the freshness and delicious taste of their beans. One of the bean dishes I plan on adding to my New Year’s Day celebration are black eyes peas. What follows is a wonderful recipe for Cowboy Chile from Rancho Gordo, which will make a delish appetizer and hopefully will increase our luck for 2023.

We’ve heard from many customers that their favorite way to enjoy Black Eyed Peas is in “Texas Caviar” or “Cowboy Caviar.” After reading endless recipes calling for canned Black Eyed Peas, canned corn, canned chiles, canned tomatoes, and jarred Italian dressing, we were skeptical about this infamous dish. This version we ended up with is closer to a fresh salsa. If you have cooked Pinto beans or Black beans, those would work well here, too, either as a replacement for the Black Eyed Peas, or combined with them. 

  • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil 
  • 1 white onion, finely chopped (divided use)
  • 1 pound uncooked Rancho Gordo Black Eyed Peas, picked over and rinsed
  • 1 pound fresh tomatoes, cored and diced
  • 1 cup raw corn kernels (from 1 ear of corn)
  • 1 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Tortilla chips, for serving

Makes 4 to 6 servings (as an appetizer)

  1. In a large soup pot over medium heat, warm the butter. Add half of the onion, stirring occasionally until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the peas and enough water to cover the peas by about an inch. Increase heat to high, bringing the contents to a rapid boil. Cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons salt and enough water to cover the peas again with about an inch of water. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer; cook until the peas are soft, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. (Peas can be cooked in advance and refrigerated.) 
  2. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, remaining onion, corn, bell pepper, avocado, jalapeño, and cilantro. Add the lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the peas; stir gently to mix. Taste and adjust seasonings. 
  3. Rest for at least 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld. Serve with tortilla chips.

May 2023 bring to you and yours many opportunities to smile while sharing meals with people you love.

31 responses to “HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 – eating a lucky meal”

  1. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    Happy 2023, Bernadette! Thanks for all the fabulous recipes over the year. I made the Turkey for two for hubby and his parents this year and they loved it. xo

  2. Chef Mimi – As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!
    Chef Mimi says:

    I am not a fan of black eyed peas. I first tasted them when I moved to Texas. Fortunately, I’m a lucky person without the darn peas! Happy New Year!

  3. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    Jenna says:

    Black eyed peas are the New Year’s luck tradition in the South, but I am not a fan…but your recipe combines them with lots of other flavorful things for what I’m sure is a lovely salsa. Happy 2023 Bernadette!

  4. I like the sound of this recipe 💖. All the best for 2023.

  5. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!
    Awakening Wonders says:

    New Year recipes with a tradition attached are the best!

  6. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats – NY, NY – Private chef, cookbook author, food journalist and translator. I love traveling and love to find out more about food wherever I go.
    Ronit says:

    Thanks for this tasty selection of foods!
    Happy New Year! 🙂

  7. I wish I could eat legumes without tummy problem, but I do enjoy pork 🙂 Happy New Year, Bernadette!

  8. New Years Day in the Southern U.S. is all about greens, cornbread and black eyed peas for luck and prosperity. I’ve never done the peas from scratch but maybe this year. Your salsa sounds so tasty and healthy to boot! 😁

  9. What a lovely tradition, to prepare food to begin the new year and encourage good luck. It brought back memories, of how we always had New Years Day Meal with the entire family at my late Nana and Pa’s home. It was a very small home, a cottage, really, and I still cannot believe that we were all seated around her small table together, eating the fine food that she had prepared, and enjoying hearty conversation.

    • Thanks for your lovely comment. If you ever want to share some of those cherished stories, just let me know. Wishing you a 2023 filled with many reasons to smile.

      • Thank you so much Bernadette that is so very kind. I am always willing to share, I think it’s in my genes😊.
        Sending you warm wishes for a happy, safe and peaceful New Year – I look forward to reading more, and finding inspiration from, New Classic Recipe.

  10. BonnieReadsAndWrites – The Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina – I love to read and write book reviews in my free time. I review advance review copies of books on Netgalley for various publishers. I am also a reviewer for Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. I review books from publishers of all size, large to small. I have a special place in my heart for indie authors. I will sometimes post a little writing that I might dabble in occasionally. I also am lucky enough to live in the Smoky Mountains, so I'll be sharing photos of the beauty around me from time to time.
    BonnieReadsAndWrites says:

    Black eyed peas and cornbread for me!

  11. Pork and sauerkraut all ready to cook here too! Love the grapes idea Bernadette.

  12. jazzytower – Brooklyn, New York – Welcome to Thoughts and Entanglements! I Live and work in NYC… I write poetry and dabble in photography. I don't claim to be an expert in any of the above, it just makes me feel good! All photos are mine unless stated otherwise. Visitors are always welcome and I love hearing from you. Thanks for stopping by!!
    jazzytower says:

    Happy New Year to you!

    Pat

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