Happy New Year!

Wow! The New Year started over a whole month ago! January always flies by fast. Even though it was so long ago, the post today is going to be focusing on New Year’s day, so I hope you’re willing to travel back in time for a few minutes!

I don’t know about you, but one of our biggest New Year’s traditions is the great meal we have for lunch or dinner. It’s my mom’s favorite meal of the year (as she tells us so frequently) and is gradually becoming mine as well. It wouldn’t feel quite like New Year’s without those black eyed peas and… yes. Even those collard greens.

However, I have been informed that our New Year’s meal is not as national as a Thanksgiving’s meal is. Apparently, this is a Southern thing.

By my mom’s suggestion this post is going to be about the foods that make New Year’s what it is. I made sure to get plenty of pictures during the process to show you. 😉

Without further ado, welcome to our kitchen! Enjoy peeking into the pots and pans as you wait for the full meal to be ready.

Over here on the stove we have the pickled peaches simmering away in their saucepan.

These are easily one of my favorite parts. They are soft, warm, canned peaches with an added tartness. You’re just going to have to take my word for it that they are scrumpcious.

Next up we have the collard greens, with these candied tomatoes to go on top.

You’ve probably turned your nose up already (I have to admit, the pictures don’t look too appetizing). But I have a little bit of information that is sure to bring them on your good side again. Ready?

Okay… eating your greens on New Year’s will bring you lots of cash over the next year!

Now you like them, I can tell.

In all seriousness, though, I’ve discovered that greens aren’t so bad as they sound! Although I still can’t claim to like the lettucy stuff and broth by itself (some people in my family slurp it with great enjoyment), if you combine them with the sweet candied tomatoes they aren’t half bad. In fact, they’re rather good (But mind you keep the ratio of red to green well balanced, or else…).

Why don’t we pop over to the table where my grandmother is for a moment? I’ve gotten out my special Alice in Wonderland tea cup just for the occasion. My sister and I both have one, and somehow it’s become tradition for us to drink from them on New Year’s, just for fun.

(My grandmother doesn’t usually enjoy having her picture taken, but I think this one turned out very nice)

Now, back to the food. Both the cornbread and ham went into the oven. I made the cornbread, and I’m telling you, it turns out different every time! Once upon a time I knew the right balance of cornmeal and buttermilk, but now I just stir it in a bowl with a Tablespoon of oil until it’s wet and hope for the best.

(Now don’t go tattling my to my mom and grandmother. As far as they know, I know exactly how to make perfect cornbread)

And for the record, this cornbread is not sweet and soft. This is Southern cornbread right here.

Besides setting the table, the only thing left is the black eyes peas, which is my other favorite part! I think that they are some of the very best foods you can get out of a jar. We almost always have to make more to go with the leftovers!

I think that’s about all of the meal. Are you ready to see them all together? It is always one of the prettiest plates of food I’ve ever seen. No other meal has quite the balance of color.

Final Thoughts

There you are! I think it turned out very nice (and there’s no doubt that it turned out tasty!) I’m very glad we have this tradition. It’s something nice to look forward to, but not crazy amounts of planning is required.

What are some of your New Year’s traditions? Do you cook a meal as well? Let me know in the comments!