New Years Day dinner

I used to do this New Years Day meal for fun and in remembrance of my Southern mom. Lately I have been doing it a little out of superstition. Three years ago we had what Cassie said was a traditional Mexican New Years dinner.  We had none of the Southern food that was representative of good luck and a health for the year to come. The very next day, I fell and broke every bone in my ankle. 

Charlie is not a fan of black eyed peas with ham so I made a  chip dip with them instead. He like the dip.  The ham hocks were cooked with canary beans, also called Mayocoba beans.  We had collard greens, corn bread, green beans with new potatoes, deviled eggs, and pumpkin pie.

2017 New Years Day 

Ham and Beans.

Soak 1 lb.Canary beans (aka Mayocoba beans) overnight

Place smoked ham (not pork) shank and or ham hock (if meaty enough) in bottom of Instant Pot. 

Add soaked and drained beans and cover with water by a couple of inches.

2T +1t. salt Note: The cured and smoked ham shanks were salty. It does not need as much salt.

1/4 yellow onion, uncut

1 clove garlic

1 bay leaf

1 T. oil to prevent foaming

Cover and cook 30 minutes. Allow pressure to escape naturally

COLLARD GREENS

2 bundles collard greens

water to cover

2 large smoked ham hocks (used one this year)

1 cup sugar

Salt

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salt__________

_tabasco sauce to taste added after cooked and drained.___

Directions

Thoroughly wash collard greens. Be sure to pull leaves apart and remove any sand. Remove stems, chop collard greens.

In a medium saucepan, bring  salted water to a simmer. Place smoked ham hocks  and greens in salted water 

Cover and cook greens for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

 BLACK EYED PEA DIP from Linda Rayburn, My sister.

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

1 tbsp pea juice

5 jalapeno peppers chopped (remove seeds)  --(I used 3 1/2)

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 double boiler (I use microwave).  Add all other ingredients.  Simmer until hot.   Serve hot.

NOTE This year I could not find Old English sharp cheese so substituted Doritos cheese dip and omitted the cheese and the butter. Charlie loved it. 

Corn Bread Muffins made according to recipe on corn meal box.