New Year's Day menu... (From: JohnE)

From: JohnE

I usually do this on New Year's Day...good 'cause it can be made the day before! ( I mean, who in their right mind is up for much cooking on New Year's Day after a previous night celebrating?? OUCH, MY HEAD!!

1) Cold black-eye pea salad (for LUCK)

Couple of cans of Black Eye peas, drained and rinsed ( or some frozen peas, blanched and plunged into cold water, then drained)

1 cup of Mayo ( or to bind )

Couple of cans of Shoe Peg Corn, drained

Bunch of green onions, chopped, with tops

Mix all together, season if necessary, salt, pepper, maybe a splash of hot sauce to taste, cover, and refrigerate.. Serve cold the next day!

2) Warmed over Turnip Green soup (for MONEY)

2 onions, chopped

4 tablespoons, butter

2 cups cooked turnip greens, OR 2 ( 10 oz ) packages frozen, with turnips

4 cups of beef stock, or 4 bouillon cubes plus 4 cups water

1/4 cup grits

1 teaspoon sugar

2 cups half and half

1 dash Tabasco

3 tablespoons butter

salt and ground pepper to taste

Saute onion in butter until tender. Add greens, stock, grits, and sugar.

Simmer 30 minutes and puree through food mill or food processor, or blender.

If not serving until the next day, refrigerate at this point... or if serving that day, add half and half and bring to a simmer.

Season with Tabasco, butter, salt, and pepper just before serving.

3) Cold left-over Christmas ham

Sliced cold Christmas ham left over!

4) Skillet cornbread (about the only thing to put together and bake on New Years)

2 tablespoons shortening or bacon grease

1-1/2 cups self rising cornmeal

Heaping spoonful of AP flour

Heaping spoonful of sugar ( for all you 'Yankees" ! LOL )

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs beaten

1-1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put shortening or bacon grease into a nice, seasoned, black skillet ( or if you don't have Grandma's, any good heat-proof pan will do, or even a glass pan ).

Combine cornmeal, salt, soda, baking powder in a large bowl, ( all dry ingredients )

Beat the eggs with the buttermilk

Mix all together well.

Pour in HOT skillet ( or hot pan, dish , with the melted grease )

Bake 12 - 15 minutes or until nice and golden.

Cut in wedges or squares and serve hot.