New Year Traditions

As 2010 is upon us at our Bed and Breakfast in Suttons Bay, it is a time of reflection of our many guests who have passed through our doors. It certainly is a magical experience having those chance encounters of "arriving as strangers but leaviing as friends" even after the briefest of stays. It takes a certain amount of trust on both parts , guest and inn keeper to make this a successful experience . But when you are lucky....it just all seems to work beautifully. It is an honor to touch the lives of some many people in one year's time. Thank you to all who have passed through our doors. You have enriched our lives in countless ways. We hope you will return and we welcome the new guests who walk through in 2010.

Looking for good luck in 2010? We started this New Year off with a southern tradition of eating Black~eyed Peas Hoppin' John. Our neighbors introduced us to this tradition by inviting us to enjoy this wonderful home cooked, traditional meal on New Year's Day this year. This tradition claims it will bring you good luck in the year ahead if actually eaten on New Year's Day. Some purist even go a step further I'm told, by actually eating it right at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. With many focused on the negative things to come...I think anything to ensure a little additional good luck in the year ahead is definitely worth trying. And this is such a deliciously spicy bean dish with black~eyed peas, andouille sausage, onions, spices and rice.....why not. It certainly can't hurt to give it a try.

Here's Emeril Lagasse"s Hoppin' John recipe for you to try. I do believe it is very close to the recipe we were served.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large ham hock or andouille sausage
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 pound black~eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed
1 quart chicken stock
Bay leaf
1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
salt, black pepper, cayenne to taste
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
3 cups steamed white rive

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in pot, add the ham hock or sausage and sear on all four sides for 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic and cook another 4 minutes. Add the black~eyed peas, chicken stock, bay leaf, thyme and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock. Adjust seasonings, and garnish with green onions. Serve over rice (we just mixed it altogether. Corn bread goes wonderfully with this dish as well.

Give it a try and let me know if it brings you good luck....or if this is already a tradition in your household, I would welcome your comments regarding eating and luck for the new year.

Another new tradition that I am hoping will bring me good health as well as luck in the new year, is making myself eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning for breakfast. My all time dislike of any cooked cereal goes way back to my youth and being persuaded to at least try some. It is all about the texture of the oatmeal I believe that bothers me. However, I bit the bullet and have started eating the oatmeal and actually am finding it not as unappetizing as my memory registers. Of course, this time around I am adding a few other goodies to top the oatmeal like some local pure maple syrup sugar (just a few sprinkles) and some of our wonderful home made Korner Kottage Krunch granola. Absolutely anything takes better when our Krunch granola is added as a topping.

So here's hoping for a healthy, lucky and prosperous New Year to all.