Happy New Year !

Happy New Year, everyone !

Well, it took some doing, but I managed to assemble everything I want to cook for dinner on New Years day - which here in Australia, is tommorrow!
Finding the black-eyed peas and collards took some doing, but I finally found them at USA Foods in Melbourne.
With postage and all, they cost me nearly an arm and a leg, but I got 'em, so we will be eating good tommorrow!
I was brought up with the old traditions and the saying :

"Eat poor on New Year's - eat rich the rest of the year."

So, we'll be having what I've always had on New Years day - at least when I could get it :
Pineapple glazed Ham
Hoppin' John (rice, bacon and black-eyed peas)
Collards
and Cornbread
"Ham or bacon for looking forward, (hogs can't look backwards)
plus Peas for Pennies, Greens for Dollars, and Cornbread for Gold.”
And we always put a penny or coin under the plate to intensify the luckiness of the meal.

In case anyone doesn’t know, Hoppin' John is made of black-eyed peas cooked with bacon, with cooked rice added, and if you have any pot liquor leftover from the black eyed peas, to sop the cornbread in... all the better! Mmm mmmm good!
Everyone who eats Hoppin' John on New Years Day is almost guaranteed to have good luck... especially wealth, during the new year.


My "New Year's Wish" for all of us :

Perhaps a bit wiser,
a bit kinder, too,
a little bit braver,
a heart that's more true,
a touch of believing
I've not known before,
in joys I'm receiving
a little bit more.

A little more anxious
to reach out my hand,
despite hurt or problems
to still understand,
accepting the heartache
that life often brings,
a little more beauty
in life's simple things.

A prayer when I'm weary
as onward I trod,
a little more trusting,
believing in God,'
tis this I would wish for
within moments dear,
not a lot - just a little
this wondrous new year.
~ Garnett Ann Schultz ~