Monday, January 5, 2009

Luck & Resolutions

Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. ~Charles Lamb




















Luck:
Of traditions I don't understand but somehow follow are the odd customs of New Years. Eating certain foods = luck for the New Year & good fortune for the coming year. I enjoy the foods in the South we eat such as Blackeyed Peas & Greens. If these tokens bring fortune we'd better hope Wall Street was enjoying a large share.
In Mexico they have a few traditions of their own which I don't quite get but am certain make as much sense as our eating greens & peas! On the stroke of midnight people stuff 12 grapes into their mouths at once & chewing, swallowing, etc. I am certain this custom has caused choking episodes on a grand scale! Then there is the custom of going out the door & coming back in with suitcases in hand announcing it will be a very prosperous year. This for me won't work as we go & come on a regular basis with suitcases out that door & it seems rather redundant...I'm certain many Expats living abroad feel this same way. The most confusing custom however is the one involving a sheep. I have seen these sheep for years around the holidays & till recently assumed they were for the nativity or nacimientos. I was wrong though. I was told they are for good luck in the New Year. The sheep often have coins tied around the neck & should be placed by the door so as to bring good luck. Hmmm, not sure I am getting it but seems pretty harmless. Frankly if we can have our Blackeyed Peas & Greens then Mexico can have the grapes & little stuffed sheep.(...and that little borrego only cost me 10 pesos, ha!)They do have to be given to someone for the "luck" to actually work... The final odd custom I've recently heard was about red underwear & was Spanish in origin. I am certain that some underwear sales person made this one up & was laughing all the way to the bank in the New Year! Happy New Year~Próspero Año Nuevo.
My Resolutions:
1.) I resolve to use my resources wisely
2.) I resolve to make every moment count with loved ones
3.) I resolve to speak softly & wisely
4.) I resolve to live life while in Mexico 1 day at a time
5.) I resolve to do more for others & not wait for someone else to do it

Thanks to Carolina Blonde with Blonde Appetit I am going to tag the following: Hey ladies...I hope that you try and document your 2009 Resolutions or Predictions: Elizabeth with The Behind the Wheel Chef , Kate with Knitter Gal, & Lauren with Bytes from Texas. Happy New Year ladies and Good luck! I look forward to reading your thoughts!










Braised Greens with Bacon
1/2 pound bacon slices, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c. onion chopped
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 lb. Swiss Chard or Mustard Greens, washed, stems removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot heat oil and bacon over high heat until bacon is well browned. Stir in garlic,onion and cook until onions are translucent . De-glaze with vegetable or chicken stock and vinegar. Add sugar and greens and partially cover. Lower heat to medium and cook for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Makes 8 servings.
*My husband's Grandmother cooked her greens with only the water which clinging to the leaves after she washed them. That works for some of the more tender greens but for sturdier greens such as Chard the bitter flavor cooks out with stock or extra water added.

18 comments:

Chef E said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chef E said...

Okay I am back...got his URL wrong

Man and I thought I wake up in the middle of the night...says you posted this six minutes ago, and it is 3:05 AM here where I am...so 'tag your it' is it? Okay I am up for that, but I will owe some else as well...

Doggybloggy did a post on this grape thing...to funny! I love that lamb...it is so cute!

Chef E said...

I also wanted to say thank you for telling me how to upload the music, I decided to post in on my TMI blog for a while then will switch...my taste in music can be so varied...so I will come here when I need soothing sounds...otherwise I have depeche mode and U2 going over there!

Dee said...

Chef E~it's fun & addictive. I am loving Frank Sinatra at the moment but that can change any moment. Yes, I am a late nighter as well but remember I am not on east coast time...a wee bit late but not that late:) So glad you joined the fun!

Tangled Noodle said...

We actually do the grape thing in the Philippines, too! Must be our shared Spanish heritage. In addition, one should find 12 (or is it 13) different but round-shaped fruits to eat soon after the new year, and to wear polka dots or any other 'round' pattern. All of these symbolize the circular shape of coins to usher in wealth and good fortune.

Dee said...

Tangled Noodle~yes, must be that Spanish heritage! 12 different fruits could be fun & rather challenging!

Joie de vivre said...

Good luck with your resolutions!

Reeni said...

That grape thing is very strange! The suitcase one is funny. Your greens sound delicous! Your resolutions are great, we can all learn something from them.

Photonuts said...

What a cute lamb picture! I only grew up with the black eyed pea eating New Years tradition, and because we had a garden, and did not travel until I left home I had been clueless that others had their own traditions.

Vale_G21 said...

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Hornsfan said...

Ok - so thanks to you I posted my resolutions! Anyway, delish greens, anything with bacon is great though, what can I say, greens + bacon = tasty!

Chef E said...

First of all I would like to congratulate you on figuring out that those two mole posts were a puzzle and you are the winner...you made it to both of them, lol...thought I would see if anyone like my double whammy...your prize is my challenge post coming up in a few days...resolutions and predictions...

My soy-rizo is made with TVP, a light version to the real deal, and Miss V made it, and I used to sell it in my cafe, a big hit...no tofu and you can order it on line!

Dee said...

Chef E~The only reason I am that astute is because of my love for Mole, ha! Can't wait for the challenge post.

Chef E said...

I just posted my Luck and Resolution post...taking a break now for a few days...thanks!

*Kimmie* said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! What an amazing adventure you're on! Best of luck in 2009, I can't wait to read more!

Chef E said...

Dee, here I am up late again, woke up and cannot go back to sleep, darn my age...hectic day working, but I realized I wanted to add one more blog person, so I made the change tonight...Tangled Noodle, she is fun...you would have been one if you had not started this :) lol

Chef E said...

PS, thanks for coming over to the TMI realm...for some reason you have to pull the page(for music) all the way down to make it come on...I will work on that one!

I know your girls already think you are a cool mom, but what fun with jello shots :)

mendytexas said...

I am sorry about your Grandmother...I know you will have wonderful memories of her! Happy New Year! :)Mendy