*** I was gonna do a bunch of research but Epicurious had already done it lol… How will you bring luck into the New Year??? I’m definitely eating Black Eyed Peas and Greens 
***
Lucky Foods for the New Year
Text by Lauren Salkeld, photos courtesy of David Loftus & Gary Baker
For many, January 1 offers an opportunity to forget the past and make a clean start. But instead of leaving everything up to fate, why not enjoy a meal to increase your good fortune? There are a variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and to improve the odds that next year will be a great one. Traditions vary from culture to culture, but there are striking similarities in what’s consumed in different pockets of the world: The six major categories of auspicious foods are grapes, greens, fish, pork, legumes, and cakes. Whether you want to create a full menu of lucky foods or just supplement your meal, we have an assortment of recipes, guaranteed to make for a happy new year, or at the very least a happy belly.
Grapes
New Year’s revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight—one grape for each stroke of the clock. This dates back to 1909, when grape growers in the Alicante region of Spain initiated the practice to take care of a grape surplus. The idea stuck, spreading to Portugal as well as former Spanish and Portuguese colonies such as Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. Each grape represents a different month, so if for instance the third grape is a bit sour, March might be a rocky month. For most, the goal is to swallow all the grapes before the last stroke of midnight, but Peruvians insist on taking in a 13th grape for good measure.
Cooked Greens
Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, kale, and chard, are consumed at New Year’s in different countries for a simple reason — their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune. The Danish eat stewed kale sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, the Germans consume sauerkraut (cabbage) while in the southern United States, collards are the green of choice. It’s widely believed that the more greens one eats the larger one’s fortune next year.
Legumes
Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are also symbolic of money. Their small, seedlike appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind. In Italy, it’s customary to eat cotechino con lenticchie or sausages and green lentils, just after midnight—a particularly propitious meal because pork has it’s own lucky associations. Germans also partner legumes and pork, usually lentil or split pea soup with sausage. In Brazil, the first meal of the New Year is usually lentil soup or lentils and rice, and in Japan, the osechi-ryori, a group of symbolic dishes eaten during the first three days of the new year, includes sweet black beans called kuro-mame.
In the Southern United States, it’s traditional to eat black-eyed peas or cowpeas in a dish called hoppin’ john. There are even those who believe in eating one pea for every day in the new year. This all traces back to the legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Virginia, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas and the legume was thereafter considered lucky.
Pork
The custom of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Roast suckling pig is served for New Year’s in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria—Austrians are also known to decorate the table with miniature pigs made of marzipan. Different pork dishes such as pig’s feet are enjoyed in Sweden while Germans feast on roast pork and sausages. Pork is also consumed in Italy and the United States, where thanks to its rich fat content, it signifies wealth and prosperity.
Fish
Fish is a very logical choice for the New Year’s table. According to Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, cod has been a popular feast food since the Middle Ages. He compares it to turkey on Thanksgiving. The reason? Long before refrigeration and modern transportation, cod could be preserved and transported allowing it to reach the Mediterranean and even as far as North Africa and the Caribbean. Kurlansky also believes the Catholic Church’s policy against red meat consumption on religious holidays helped make cod, as well as other fish, commonplace at feasts. The Danish eat boiled cod, while in Italy, baccalà, or dried salt cod, is enjoyed from Christmas through New Year’s. Herring, another frequently preserved fish, is consumed at midnight in Poland and Germany—Germans also enjoy carp and have been known to place a few fish scales in their wallets for good luck. The Swedish New Year feast is usually a smorgasbord with a variety of fish dishes such as seafood salad. In Japan, herring roe is consumed for fertility, shrimp for long life, and dried sardines for a good harvest (sardines were once used to fertilize rice fields).
Cakes, Etc.
Cakes and other baked goods are commonly served from Christmas to New Year’s around the world, with a special emphasis placed on round or ring-shaped items. Italy has chiacchiere, which are honey-drenched balls of pasta dough fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Poland, Hungary, and the Netherlands also eat donuts, and Holland has ollie bollen, puffy, donut-like pastries filled with apples, raisins, and currants.
In certain cultures, it’s customary to hide a special trinket or coin inside the cake—the recipient will be lucky in the new year. Mexico’s rosca de reyes is a ring-shaped cake decorated with candied fruit and baked with one or more surprises inside. In Greece, a special round cake called vasilopita is baked with a coin hidden inside. At midnight or after the New Year’s Day meal, the cake is cut, with the first piece going to St. Basil and the rest being distributed to guests in order of age. Sweden and Norway have similar rituals in which they hide a whole almond in rice pudding—whoever gets the nut is guaranteed great fortune in the new year.
Cakes aren’t always round. In Scotland, where New Year’s is called Hogmanay, there is a tradition called “first footing,” in which the first person to enter a home after the new year determines what kind of year the residents will have. The “first footer” often brings symbolic gifts like coal to keep the house warm or baked goods such as shortbread, oat cakes, and a fruit caked called black bun, to make sure the household always has food.
What Not to Eat
In addition to the aforementioned lucky foods, there are also a few to avoid. Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. Chicken is also discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away.
Now that you know what to eat, there’s one more superstition—that is, guideline—to keep in mind. In Germany, it’s customary to leave a little bit of each food on your plate past midnight to guarantee a stocked pantry in the New Year. Likewise in the Philippines, it’s important to have food on the table at midnight. The conclusion? Eat as much lucky food as you can, just don’t get too greedy—or the first place you’ll be going in the new year is the gym.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU MADD SEXY & COOL PEOPLE!!!
Like most folks, I made a list of goals for the new year. But its not a new list, just refocused. I didn’t proclaim certain goals last year because I still had a lot to finish from 2008. This year I need to be even more determined if I’m going to get where I’m going. For New Years Eve, I alot of time thinking about what I need to change in order for me to grow into the person I want to become, to accomplish those things I want in life. I also prayed and consecrated my faith and my goals on NYE and prayed that if it’s the Lord’s will and not my own then let it be done. All I have this year is faith… but sometimes faith needs a little motivation…
So dude surprised with brown knee high boots as a christmas present this morning after he’d given me an ironing board for christmas yesterday (inside joke but I loved it was content with only that). But the story is when I got dressed this morning for work I wanted to wear my boots. They fit perfectly which was a great surprise as well since I can never ever find a a regular shoe that fits let alone a knee high boot. So I picked out this pretty brown dress to go with my brown boots and a dark olive green pashmina. Yea I’m looking good today .
The problem is when I go to put on my coat. Its suppose to freeze and ice today so I definitely need a coat but I only have black and grey coats! I have a tan bomber jacket with a fur hood but that was not gonna work. So what do I do… I stop by Target on the way to work to buy a neutral colored coat. Yes I did and I was unsuccessful. They only had a tan waterproof trench for $50 and it was not worth $50 looking at it. Total FAIL. I just feel so tacky in my black coat. Was that anal for me to stop at Target at 8:30 in the morning to buy a coat that matched my out fit for today? It’s not that I wouldn’t wear it again. I don’t have a neutral colored coat, which in my eyes would justify the purchase.
One more thing. I hate seeing grown ass women with chipped nail polish. Mine got chipped over the Christmas holidays so on my way to the movies on Sunday I did my best to take the polish off. FAIL… I ran out of polish remover and was already running late. I do stuff like this all the time. I’ll give myself a mini manicure in the parking garage before I go into work, or I’ll touch up my clear polish on the way to some where. I always run out of time before I leave to fix my nails, but I’m sorry it must be done! Anal huh? Or is it just the girly lady in me?
So, I’ll admit it… I think Kanye is sexy. I’m attracted to men with an ego, and not every ego is the same… will save that for another post. But when I saw these pics, I had to share the sexiness. Merry Christmas to my eyes…
I would love to get this collection of wrapped gift boxes wrapped in a big bow!
#1. Sex around the house $15.99 – Adult game for couples that encourages you to explore sex outside of the bedroom and around the house.
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#5. TROJAN® MAGNUM® ECSTASY™ $13.99 10pack – condoms feature a revolutionary new design that let’s you feel the pleasure, not the condom! PRACTICE SAFE SEX!
Whoa! It’s been a long long long time since I’ve done a weekend wrap up. And this is probably because my natural alarm clock is waking me up at 5am even when my son is on Christmas break… so I’ll just make use of the time… blog and yoga .
So as some of you know I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed on last Thursday, which made for a long weekend. Getting my wisdom teeth removed has been a 6 month long decision making process mostly because of my fear of the oral surgery. I’ve never had surgery of any kind. I’ve given birth naturally and had a skin biopsy, but going under… never. I think the one thing that made it a comfortable process was dude. He picked me up that morning and we got there tooo early, 45 minutes early. So we left and went to Starbucks. Torture since I couldn’t have anything so he bought me this cute little bear and we were just totally goofy the whole time. So I get back to the periodontist and pay my final payment in cash (Discount!) and the start hooking me up. All of this was unexpected. My biggest fear is needles. Why? Because when I need to have blood tested or have an IV, them ass holes can never find a vein! No veins exist in my right arm. Normally the veins in my hands are used and thank goodness they only stuck me twice. Then I was out… not totally but dude swears that they gave me laughing gas. Anywho, every thing went well and it didn’t take as long as I thought. I kept the teeth cause I’m that type of chick, I like stuff like that. (I still have my sons umbilical cord that fell off lol, and locks of my hair that I cut off when I went natural back in 2002).
Well Thursday after the surgery was the worse. My gums were bleeding most of the day, I couldn’t talk, and I was out most of the day. Dude stayed with me and just worked my living room. He timed all my meds, gave me my ice packs when it was time and just had my back.
Friday, was a whole lot better! The meds were awesome and I just wanted to get out of the house. Yea crazy I know, I only went to Jareds to pick up my ear rings. And later that day I hung out with dude and we went to dinner and Target, swollen chipmunk face and all. People aren’t as bad as I thought. I got a lot of looks. You can tell most folks were just wondering if I was born that way or maybe they had there teeth removed too and know that face. Well we went to a new restaurant and I had some bomb Tortilla soup (just the soup juice, dude took the solid food from the soup home. He said it was the best soup he’d had in a long time… with out the juice. We’re definitely going back).
Saturday I got lil man back. He didn’t like what he saw at first but knew it was mommy. He went to see Princess and the Frog and then went Christmas shopping, mostly for him and dude. This is when I came a little disappointed in our young black people. This one guy not a day over 20 with his son in Finish Line basically left dragging his so out when he took a look at me. And in the Gap, these two chicks kept starring and whispering and laughing, now with them I basically told them ignorance is bliss and their evil asses need to grow up and get a clue. Now white folks were as I expected them to be… too damn friendly. Not wanting to pass judgement of what may possibly be wrong with me, they were sweet and loved on my son lol. Go figure.
All that shopping wore my swollen self out! I finally rested on Sunday… dudes fault… he came over Saturday night… hehehe .
And now its Monday and I have to go back into work. The swelling has gone down a lot but I still don’t have my jawline lol. So I’ll just be my fabulous self and do up my hair and put on my haute clothes! That’s one thing about dude… Everyday he told me how beautiful I still was, I like that. And I still felt that even without his compliment. Swollen face and all, I still felt like the beautiful person I am inside and out. That’s why I didn’t care about what folks thought and wanted to still be out and not stuck inside the house. I think that was the most eye opening thing for me personally this weekend. I’m glad to know that I’m not that vain person, that chick that needs to be perfect all the time. I was more concerned that I would scare folks, but I never hid my face. Was it because I knew it wasn’t permanent? Maybe. I’m just glad to know that I’m really that comfortable in my own skin… I was the cutest chipmuck ever 
.
Ignore the diet in the title and just focus on the 5 foods that most of us would normally eliminate when we’re on a “diet.” I was just thinking this last week that I’m never going to reach my fitness goals because I crave carbs! I eat bread and pasta constantly. But it’s not that I want to stop eating them because they’re making me gain weight but just because we’re told to eliminate carbs to see quicker results. Well this article below is perfect for me and basically says I can keep eating carbs, preferably whole grains (CHECK), I just need to watch my portions. And it also lets me know that my thinking was right… I feel so much fuller when I eat pasta, and that’s what I need. read more…
#1
My son is reading! I’ve had some ups and downs with my son and his Autism Spectrum, mostly with communication and behavior. His school was having problems too until I went up there and straightened them out. They were literally let him control them and he was acting up all day. Now see the difference with my son is that is main issue is communication. He’s speech delayed which creates other issues, but the child is not special. At all. He’s very receptive and aware of situations and will take advantage. They didn’t know that. So momma had to tell them the deal and to not treat him likes he’s “special” cause he’s not. Be firm and direct with him like all the other students in general education. And when I tell you they are singing my praises! He hasn’t had an incident and now they can actually teach him and in less than 2 months my child was reading! He’s talking more and responding now instead of repeating. I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present.
#2
I get my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow. All 4. And after my CAT scan a few months ago they told me I was a special case… not what you want to hear before any kind of surgery. The root of my bottom right wisdom tooth is intangled in nerves, meaning if they take out the entire tooth I may lose feeling in my jaw or right side of my face. NOT GOOD. So they’re only going to remove the crown. What I’m really scared about is being put under. I’ve only been in the hospital to give birth. Never had any surgeries so I’m hoping I react okay to the anestesia.
#3
Christmas is next week and I have yet to start shopping. The $500 bonus I got will definitely help. But I’m only using $150 of that, $200 in savings, and $150 to my business. And I’m doing stocking stuffers for dude and Elijah… and myself so I need to put my thinking cap on lol.
#4
I don’t remember making a list of goals for 2009… but I feel that I have made some personal accoplishments this year. Next year I think I’m just going to focus on growth… personally, financially, and with family and personal relationships. Just focusing on the blessings and being faithful.
i see myself in this last pic! love janet!
