Traditional Southern New Years Day Dinner

I had given up on ham hock, collards and black eyed peas for NYD because the ham hocks available In grocery stores were pathetic to non-existant but last summer at a farmers market a real beauty showed up and it went in the freezer until time to thaw it for today. We had it with collards, corn bread, and the black eyed peas are in the small dish. They were made into a dip for corn chips.  The ham hock was cooked with Navy beans instead of black eyed peas because Charlie won't eat black eyed peas unless they get turned into a cheesy dip.

 BLACK EYED PEA DIP

 

4 cups cooked, dried black eyed peas or 4 cups canned peas (mash some)

1 tbsp pea juice

5 jalapeño peppers chopped (remove seeds)  Use less if desired 

1/2 medium onion chopped

4 oz. can green chilis chopped

1 clove garlic minced

1/2 lb. Old English sharp cheese

1 stick butter

 

Mix all except cheese and butter.  Melt cheese and butter in microwave

.  Add all other ingredients.  Simmer until hot.   Serve hot.

Pan-Fried Collard Greens 

• Total: 30 min   Yield: 4 servin

Ingredients

6 thick bacon slices, chopped into large pieces

1 large onion, diced 

3 cloves garlic, minced 

2 pounds collard greens (about to 2 large bunches), stems discarded, leaves washed and chopped

1 tablespoon honey 

A few dashes of hot sauce 

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 

Directions

• Add bacon to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove from the pan and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.
• Add the onion to the bacon grease and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Add the greens, honey, hot sauce and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Cook the greens, stirring occasionally, until greens are nice and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if necessary. Serve hot with bacon on top.

Navy beans and corn bread  were cooked according to package directions.  The ham hock was boiled with the beans.

• 12 years ago we dispensed with the Southern start-off-the-New-Year with the  good-luck dinner and had one that Cassie wanted. It was a traditional NYD meal in Mexico- her fathers country. A day or two later, I slipped on a patch of ice and broke my ankle. Since then I at least have some black eyed peas on that day.