Good Luck Tradition

The Christmas decorations are finally put away and now I'm getting ready for the new year! I'm already starting my list of New Year's resolutions. Now, how do you think that tradition got started? My list is probably no different from the majority of people. The typical: eat better, live better, exercise more, be more considerate and be a better person.

Another tradition is that of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's day. The traditional meal may also feature collard or mustard greens. This is supposed to bring good luck and financial enrichment. The peas stand for coins, the greens symbolize paper money. Corn bread also often accompanies this meal.

These "good luck" traditions date back to the U.S. Civil War. Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman, would typically strip the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock and destroy whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" and corn suitable only for animal fodder, and as a result didn't steal or destroy these humble foods. Many Southerners survived as a result of this mistake.

Here is a great recipe using black-eyed peas. Now, before you turn your nose up on black-eyed peas, consider this. I don't even like black-eyed peas, and I like this dish. It's simple with only these ingredients:



There's also bell pepper in the recipe, but I had already started cutting it when I decided to take pictures.

Brown one pound of ground beef, one pound of sausage with one onion, chopped and one bell pepper, chopped.



Add four cans of black-eyed peas. Now, before you get to thinking, boy that looks like a lot of food. It is! I'm making this to take to work, so I've tripled the recipe. What you're seeing in the picture is 6 pounds of meat and 12 cans of black-eyed peas. This recipe is that good! My sister-in-law is making a triple batch, too. We'll be having it at work, feeding about 40 people. Believe me, there won't be anything left.



Now add two cans of Ro-tel tomatoes. Let it simmer several hours and you've got one good meal.


Be sure and serve it with some good cornbread, and you've got a traditional New Year's meal guaranteed to bring you good luck!

Black-Eyed Pea Gumbo

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. sausage
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
4 cans black-eyed peas
2 cans Rotel tomatoes

Brown ground beef, sausage, onion and bell pepper. Drain grease. Add black-eyed peas and Rotel and simmer for 2-3 hours.

The Gift Of Jesus

THE GIFT OF JESUS

It's a gift wrapped in love,

the love of a King.

It's a gift wrapped in grace ---

what a wonderful thing!

It's a gift wrapped in joy,

the joy of creation,

A gift wrapped in song,

the song of salvation.

It's the gift of a Man

who died on the cross.

It's the gift of new life

so not one would be lost.

It's a gift just for us,

not too big, not too small.

It's the gift of Christ Jesus ---

the best gift of all!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! II Corinthians 9:15

From my house to yours, may your Christmas be peaceful and blessed.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Here's the other picture Jennifer used on her Christmas cards. Is big sister trying to tempt little brother????? Just wait 'til they're older and starting to snoop for Christmas presents.

May the spirit of the season put a smile on your face!

Jennifer has tagged me for this fun idea wherein I have to share 12 random things about myself that are Christmas related.


Here are the rules:


1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas 2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word 3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere. 4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.



12 Random Christmas Things About Cyndy:





1. Christmas is my favorite time of year! I love all the decorations, but I don't like to put them up until after Thanksgiving. The Friday after Thanksgiving is the best time to start!



2. My favorite movie, It's A Wonderful Life, just happens to also be a Christmas movie.



3. I love driving around and looking at lights. I can usually only get Mike to drive around looking at lights only one night. So, whenever I'm out and it gets dark, even if I'm by myself, I always take detours so I can look at the lights. I think I could drive around every night from Thanksgiving to Christmas and not get bored with looking at all the pretty decorated houses.



4. I still believe in Santa Claus.



5. I'm not sure, but I don't thing my children do. But, if they don't, they sure wouldn't tell me for fear that I might stop believing, too.



6. When I was little, my brothers and I always got up early Christmas and went and peeked under the Christmas tree.



7. We also use to snoop around and look for our gifts. Some years we found them, other times my parents were pretty good about hiding them.


8. I'm glad that my neighbor across the street goes all out for Christmas. You should see all their decorations. I like to just sit in my parlor and look out the windows at all the pretty lights. I also think they do it just for my benefit.


9. I really like Christmas stockings. Just think of all the neat little gifts you can receive in stockings!!



10. When my kids were little, they heard Santa's reindeer on the roof. I did too! It was the neatest sound.


11. I like all the great Christmas baking. Christmas cookies, fudge, peanut patties, divinity, it's all great!

12. I really don't like wrapping presents, but I like gifts that are wrapped pretty. I always say I'll start wrapping sooner, but I always put it off until the last.

I tag Jeri.

Sugar Plum Fairy

Here is my sugar plum fairy. Isn't she just the cutest???? I thought it would be easier taking Kaylee's picture, so I saved her for last. Wrong. She was tired and ready to get the whole Christmas Card picture taking over with! But, despite her being tired, I think this one turned out pretty good.

Cup Of Joy

I've been a little busy lately with shopping, wrapping presents, sending our Christmas cards, baking and all the other things that goes along with this time of year. I did want to share this picture I took of Nolan that Jennifer used on her Christmas cards. Tomorrow I'll post the picture of Kaylee. Nolan is our little cup of joy. He was such a delight this weekend. Always so happy and looking for all kinds of new things to get into. He really liked crawling and chasing after Snickers!

Happy Anniversary

I've heard that the best way to enjoy life is to savor the passing of time with someone you love. Mom and Dad have shared their life together for 57 years. Their love for each other is such an inspiration to all of their children. Their love for each other is shown with their actions.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM & DAD

Just A Waiting

For this:

to turn into this:

Barb at A Chelsea Morning posted this friendship cake recipe and it looked so good, I just had to try it. But you really have to have patience. It takes 21 days for the starter and 30 days for the cakes. I can hardly wait to taste the finished product. It makes two cakes and I was going to give them both away, but then I thought, are you crazy????? I've waited this long and I've just got to see what they taste like. They sure look good! Mine won't be ready until December 23rd, so I'm cutting it close to give as a Christmas present. But, I already know who I'm giving it to, and I think she'll really enjoy the cake and starter.

I use to have a fantastic sourdough starter and it made the best bread and rolls. I sure would like to get some more sourdough starter. I may have to just start my own. One thing for sure, it doesn't take as long for sourdough starter as it does for this friendship cake!

Mom's Meals

About twice a month I cook with a group of fun, loving, and very intelligent women. It's with a ministry that was started at our church in 1993 by a very special man who saw a need to help AIDS patients. We prepare meals for these patients and their families, home bound or shut-ins, and people with special needs. There are currently five of us who get together to cook and package the meals. At times we have to be a little creative. Kind of like going to your pantry, seeing what you've got, and then bringing it all together for a fabulous meal, or at least edible. We also receive a few donations, which really help. Such as this left over turkey and dressing.

Sometimes it's a matter of assembling pre-packaged foods. But even when we do that, there's always cooking going on. Last night we prepared pork chops, chicken, tuna casserole, ham, turkey and beef stew.


And of course, when you get five women together in a kitchen, there's a whole lot of talking and laughing going on! Hard to keep up with all the conversations. The best part is the fellowship. One thing for sure, when you've got friends like these, you don't need a therapist!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Actually, it really isn't looking like Christmas in our house. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time decorating this year. I keep looking at different blogs and everyone is doing such a beautiful job getting their houses ready. This is what I'm looking at:

No wonder I can't seem to get motivated. It's a lot of hard work for such a short time. But then I think of all the past Christmases and all our memories we made and realize yes, it's so worth it!!!!! So all you over-worked and over whelmed mothers out there, just remember that you're creating family traditions and long lasting memories. So with that said, I've gotten the boxes out of the barn and I'm putting up the tree. I got the tree decorated last night and hung all the important stockings. I still need to put the name on the newest one!

I always try to pick up some ornaments when we're on vacation. I got this hand blown ornament this summer in Manatou Springs. I love the way the lights shine on it. The picture just doesn't do it justice.

I didn't put up my village this year, so this little fiber optic one will just have to do.


And I have a few Santas around.


Don't you just love this Santa's face?