The gifts have all been opened and Christmas 2022 is a thing of the past. Now we look forward to the New Year 2023. People celebrate New Year’s Eve in many different ways – everything from blue jeans to black tie.
Here in the South, we take our New Year’s Day food traditions very seriously. To ensure good financial fortunes for the year, we must have our greens. Turnip greens are the green of choice, but any leafy green vegetable will suffice. Peas bring good luck for the year. They can be fresh, canned, dried, or frozen, but must be of the black-eyed variety.
It is certainly debatable whether eating these special foods on this special day has anything to do with your good fortune for the next year, but no good Southerner would dare tempt fate. I know I never do.
Rather than the traditional way of preparing greens and black-eyed peas, I have some dips that use the ingredients you need. Just to put a little variety in your New Year’s Day celebration. Hope you will give them a try.
I hope each of you have a Happy New Year. Thanks for reading.
HOT TURNIP GREEN DIP
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
¼ cup white wine
2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen, chopped turnip greens, thawed and drained
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
¾ cup milk
1 tsp. hot sauce
¼ tsp. salt
Saute’ onion in butter until tender. Stir in wine, and simmer for 2 minutes; stir in remaining ingredients, and cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated; stirring occasionally. Serve warm with Keebler cornbread crackers or crackers of your choice.
HOT BLACK-EYED PEA DIP
1 onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. butter
1 (16 oz.) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
4 oz. Mozzarella cheese
Saute’ onion in butter; mix all ingredients, except Mozzarella cheese. Pour in a quiche dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Then put Mozzarella cheese on top and heat until cheese melts. Serve with your favorite corn or tortilla chips.
NEW YEAR’S DAY CAVIAR
1 (15 oz.) can black-eyed peas, rinse and drain
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinse and drain
1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drain
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped bell pepper
1 (4 oz.) can diced jalapeno
1 (4 oz.) can chopped black olives
1 (14 oz.) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 cup Wish Bone Italian salad dressing
1 tsp. garlic salt
Mix all ingredients and refrigerate overnight. Serve with Tortilla Scoops.
