A New Year Tradition

In the South, it is a well practiced tradition to eat black-eyed peas and collard greens on the first day of the year. The consumption of said foods is meant to bring, respectively, health and wealth. I was not raised in the south. But I have enough of the South in my pedigree to cling religiously to this tradition. My mom was born and raised in Texas. Her mother was born and raised in the South as was her grandmother.

As a kid, I was not a fan of this meal. We ate the black-eyed peas straight and the collard greens with jalapeño vinegar (I actually like eating collard greens this way now. As a kid-not so much). I liked the tradition. I just hated actually eating it. Several years ago, my mom started making a dish she calls 'New Year's Rice.' It is quite delicious and includes both of these important ingredients. I make it every year and have grown to love it so much that I could eat the whole lot of it by myself.



This is how I like to make my mom's recipe.

New Year's Rice
2 cups black-eyed peas or one can, rinsed and drained
2-3 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup butter
4 cups torn spinach or collard greens ( I use a whole 9 oz. bag of spinach)
1/2 link of kielbasa sausage, diced
2 T Parmesan cheese
1 t salt
a few dashes of hot sauce- Tabasco, or if you live in my house, Frank's Hot Sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Have peas and rice ready
In a large skillet, brown diced sausage. Remove to another dish.
In same skillet, melt butter. Stir in spinach and cook until tender- about 4 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients except the cheeses. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Just before serving, stir in the cheeses.

Makes 5-6 3/4 cup servings.