Share a Spoon - Out with the Old and In with the New

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Share a Spoon
New Year's Edition
Out with the old and In with the New
Every little girl from the South knows that on New Year's day you have to have black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread.  They may not be able to tell you why, just that, that's what you eat.  If you ask someone over the age of 40 they probably can tell you the superstition that goes with it.
Remember I told you that my Granny is superstitious.  I mean she says things like if her nose is itching someone must be coming.  If her palms are itchy she must be gonna come inta some money.  Silly stuff like that.  When it comes to New Year's there's of course, the black-eyed peas and greens.  However, there is much more than that.  We were never allowed to do laundry on New Year's either.  Why?  Well I asked that question too.
You'll love this one.  If you do laundry on New Year's?  It means you'll be buried in laundry for the coming year.  Um....hello?  That's called motherhood. Just sayin'!  Most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  It's right up there with the black-eyed peas and ham being for luck and the cabbage or greens being a sign for money in the coming year. 
Yeah???  I ate that meal last year, and every other effin' year of my life.  Let me just say this.  The shit don't work.  However, be it a superstition or not, and as ridiculous as it is, that is what I'll be eating come Saturday.
However, first, first comes the party the night before.  Now that I am all settled and old grown up, going out on New Year's just doesn't have the same appeal it once did.  Staying off the road with the crazies and drunks is my idea of good luck for the New Year, but hey...to-mA-to, to-Mah-to. 
So super duper at home Snack Mix for the PARTY, you know with the kiddos and friends and family.
Crispix n' Pecans Mix
8 cups Crispix cereal2 cups pecans3 cups pretzels1 stick butter 2 teaspoons lemon juice3 Tablespoons Worchestershire sauce2 teaspoons hot sauce (can be adjusted to suit your taste)1 Tablespoon Seasoning Salt1 Tablespoon Garlic powder1 Tablespoon Onion powder1 teaspoon Kosher salt
Preheat oven to 275 degrees.In a large bowl combine the pretzels, cereal and nuts.In a medium bowl add stick of butter.  Top the stick of butter with lemon juice, Worchestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and Seasoning salt.  Heat on high for 90 seconds (or until butter is completely melted).Whisk all ingredients together until emulsified.Drizzle into the cereal mix a little at a time.  Stirring until all the mix is well coated.Spread coated mix out on two sheet pans.Sprinkle with kosher salt.Bake at 275 for 1 hour.  Turn mix at the 30 minute mark.Allow to cool and then store in an airtight container.
I end up having to make several batches of this through the holidays.  The combination of the nuts and cereal is just perfect.  You can certainly use Chex cereal if you like.  I prefer Crispix.  Feel free to use the nuts you like as well.

Now, onward to the black-eyed peas.  Remember I cook a ham overnight on Christmas Eve?  It serves two purposes.  One, I don't have to worry about breakfast on Christmas morning.  The second?  I have a nice big yummy bone to flavor my black-eyed peas!  Score for me!
New Year's Black-Eyed Peas
1 small onion1 large ham bone 1 bag dried black eyed peas1 box chicken stockwater
In a small saute pan with a little olive oil or butter saute the chopped onion until just translucent.Add the onion to the crock pot.Wash the peas and add to the crock pot.Add ham bone.Add the box of chicken stock.Add water until the bone and peas are completely covered.After the party winds down and you are ready for bed, turn the crock pot on low and cook peas for 8 hours.
Tah Dah!  No fuss, no muss.
I boil a head of cabbage the next day with a stick of butter, a little salt, pepper and about 1/2 cup of water on medium heat until the cabbage is just tender.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Now, link your New Year's meal, favorite party drink or appetizers for the big she-bang and have yourself a safe and happy holiday!