New Years Holiday Food Beans Rice Pork Greens Holiday Menus
Just about everyone thinks of New Year's as a chance to get rid of bad habits and turn over a new leaf. Whether you're looking to lose a few pounds, find a better job, or simply be more positive in the new year to come, I'm sure you feel you could use all the help you can get. Why not start the year off on the right foot with foods traditionally eaten on New Year's Day to help ensure luck and prosperity in the 365 days to come?
Pork
If you've ever wondered why exactly ham is such a commonly eaten New Year's food, it's because pigs symbolize progress in many countries such as Sweden, Spain, Austria, and Hungary. Why not whip up a crowd-pleasing honey-glazed ham or a succulent, juicy roasted pork loin if you're expecting family for dinner? If you live somewhere with a temperate climate where you're able to grill all year round, you may want to consider taking advantage of your excellent weather and grilling up some thick-cutpork chopsinstead.
Fish
If you don't eat pork for spiritual or health reasons, fish makes an excellent alternative protein. The tradition of eating fish such as cod on New Year's Day goes all the way back to the middle ages when it was an easily dried, transported and preserved staple food in many regions. Try serving your New Year's guests some crispy and delicious baked cod. Alternatively, you could put a different spin on your choice of seafood by serving some tasty fried calamari rings as appetizers and following up with a savory, hearty cioppino to chase the chill away.
Greens
Chances are you've been served cooked greens such as cabbage, kale, chard or spinach for New Year's dinner many times before, but you may not have known exactly why greens are a traditional choice. The reason why is actually quite simple. Cooked greens resemble folded money, so eating plenty of them is said to ensure one's prosperity and fortune in the year to come. The more you eat, the more prosperous you will be, so definitely don't pass up the chance to tempt your guests' appetites with creamy spinach dip or nutritious collard greens, especially if you plan on serving pork as the main course.
Beans
Like greens, beans are traditionally reminiscent of money, especially in coin form. As with the greens mentioned above, it is said that the more of them you consume on New Year's, the more fortune will find you in the coming year ahead. Black-eyed peas and lentils are considered to be especially fortuitous, so be sure to serve plenty of either (or both) as filling, delicious sides. Alternatively, if you have a ham bone or ham hock leftover from Christmas dinner, you can add it to a pot of beans, collards and brown rice to makeHoppin' John, a Southern New Year's favorite that is not only delicious, but nutritious as well.
