Eating for Good Luck

What is your traditional menu on New Year's Day? In my early adulthood, New Year's Day foods consisted of whatever I could keep down or the latest hangover remedy. Thankfully, I have (recently) returned to the southern tradition of blackeyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread served on the southern table of my youth. Let's face it - no matter how many gourmet burgers or vegetarian pizzas we eat during the year, there is nothing better or more comforting than this combination. The New Year's Day menu is a reminder of our southern roots and puts us in touch with that tradition, whatever its origin. Not only that, it is healthy and inexpensive -- two things we all need to consider these days. And, if eating blackeyed peas brings good luck as thought in this deeply held belief, we need that too.

Looking for a seasoning for blackeyed peas that is healthier than ham hocks?  Try this with one pound of dried blackeyed peas:

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp caraway seeds
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
Kosher salt, to taste

(Note: If preferred, lightly toast and ground your own caraway seeds, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds for even more flavor. If available in your area, substitute 2 Tbsp harissa or more to taste for the cayenne pepper.) The recipe by Martha Rose Shulman used these seasonings and these have become the staple seasonings to my dried blackeyed peas.  How do you season your blackeyed peas?