Mrs. Pennington: David, did you eat any pork and sauerkraut?
David: Not yet. We're having it for dinner today. Some people think it gives you good luck for the new year.
Mrs. Pennington: My brother believed it did. He had to have his pork and sauerkraut every January first. And he had a terrible life.
[pregnant pause]
Mrs. Pennington: Do you believe it gives good luck?
David: I don't know - it just tastes good.
oh yes, yes it does! We ate so hard at dinner today I only remembered to snap photos when we were done. The children come home from church roaring hungry and tired, so I work hard to be sure dinner is ready when we walk in the door.
I roasted the pork yesterday and chunked it. This morning I layered it with locally made sauerkraut, caraway seeds, an apple, an onion and salt. We ate it with hand-mashed potatoes, peas and (shamefaced grin) carrot-n-jello salad. My husband sniffs: "THAT is not a salad." I know: it's a Mennonite throwback to the 50s that has survived in my family cookery because it is such a refreshing counterpoint to the rich, heavy pork and sauerkraut.
Another "good luck" food I've heard of is black eyed peas or Hoppin' John. What do you eat for New Year's Day, good luck or no?
Good old Mrs. P! We came home to bake potatoes and meat loaf. I'm tellin' ya.....you never should've gotten rid of the Hammer Creek cookbook.
ReplyDeleteR
Superyum. You're a good food writer. - Matthew M.
ReplyDeleteAllow me to digress from the food and say-- that is a beautiful cloth for your table. Yum with the yellow walls.
ReplyDeletealso, I love how you pair food. I need lessons.
Margo - love your blog - as someone who lived in the south - we love Hoppin John (black eyed peas), collard greens, cornbread, mac and cheese and fried chicken for New Years. It does help to have a friend who grew up on this and makes it ohhhh so good.
ReplyDeleteElena, that sounds sooooo good! Maybe that will be next year. . .except I'd have to figure out how to fry chicken.
ReplyDeleteCarrot and jello salad?! Hmmm. I think of myself as a pretty adventurous eater, but I don't know if that one will go to the top of my must-make list.
ReplyDeleteIn my family, cornbread, black eyed peas, and cabbage were the lucky new year foods.