Well 2020 is finally over. It is now behind us FOREVER. Let’s hope 2021 is better for everyone.
We had a small New Year’s gathering at our house to make sure 2020 actually left and 2021 was really happening. Jonathan, Priscilla, Laura and Gabe all came over for dinner.
We are ready to eat and ready to celebrate.
As usual, Priscilla, Laura and I all made parts of the dinner. Being 1/2 Texan, black-eyed peas were definitely a focal point of the dinner. I served them Caribbean style this time, with some lemon rice and jerk chicken.
Laura made these fabulous spinach balls with an aioli sauce as an appetizer.
Priscilla made a delicious gingerbread cake for dessert. Everything was so good!!!!! And of course, we had lots of wine and champagne throughout the evening as well as plenty of good food food, good conversations and a lot of fun. After dinner, we all joined Janet and Bob for a ZOOM Farkle game. Everyone had a good time. There were lots of laughs and stories told, and we all made sure we stayed up to ring in the new year and kick 2020 to the curb.
We are all set up and ready to let the Farkle games begin. May the best person win. (I won this time). 🙂
Black-eyed peas are a Southern tradition for New Years. They are believed to bring good luck to all those who eat them at New Years. New Year’s Good Luck with Black-Eyed Peas and Ham Soup. I made a BIG batch of the black-eyes peas too. I wanted to make sure we all had A LOT of good luck for 2021 to make up for how bad 2020 was. It was fun to make them Caribbean style too.
Caribbean Style Black-Eyed Peas
1 lb dried black-eyed peas
2 TBSP olive oil
1 onion, diced fine
1/2 small pumpkin cut into chunks
2 celery stalks, diced fine
1-2 TBSP garlic
1 red bell pepper, diced fine
3-4 jalapenos, diced fine
salt & pepper to taste
red pepper flakes to taste, optional
4 bay leaves
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp thyme
8 oz of fresh spinach, kale or greens, chopped rough
4-5 cups chicken, vegetable or ham stock
green onions for topping
Soak the black-eyed peas in water, enough to completely cover them for at least 6-12 hours. Then drain and rinse them.
In a large pot, heat the oil, then add the vegetables and spices and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent.
Add the beans and mix everything together well.
Add the stock. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook for about 1 hour, stirring frequently.
Add the spinach and thoroughly mix into the mixture, just until it becomes wilted throughout, then remove from the heat and serve.
Serve it with either white, yellow, or lemon rice and top with chopped green onions. I served mine with Caribbean jerk chicken, but ham or pork would go well with this dish too. Champagne, Proseco, or a sparkling white wine or a crispy, citrusy white wine would be a very nice accompaniment for this dish. It is very colorful and very festive, and full of Caribbean flavor and warmth.
Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2021 brings you all lots of good luck, health and happiness. Cheers!
A Jeanne in the Kitchen 
Yum! Reminds me of the delicious Jamaican jerk chicken we had on a cruise. So good! Happy New Year!
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Thank you. Happy New year to you as well.
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Happy New Year Jeanne! We always get Chinese food, but I think other food traditions are interesting!
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Chinese works too. Our friend Janet made some chow mein yesterday and shared some with us, so that is what we had for dinner last night. I just love the history of our foods. I find it so exciting. Happy New Year to you as well.
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Happy new year 🥳 may 2021 be filled with love, laughter and happiness 💫
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Thank you. Happy New Year to you as well. 🙂
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Looks and sounds like you had a fun time.
I just realized… Did you have your ornament snatching exchange this year?
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Thank you. No. We didn’t. Even if we did, it would be very tiny because most people would not have come anyway, due to COVID. If we have one this year, do you want to come out? You know I will feed well, and it will be a lot of fun. 🙂
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I have no clue what will happen in December (or before), but probably not (due to difficult family dynamics). Fall might be more probable.
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Anytime you want to come out, just come on out. You are always welcome. 🙂
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🙂
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I love dinners where everyone pitches in and, sadly, we’ve not been allowed many of these this year. Wishing you a healthy happy and successful 2021 Jeanne.
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Thank you, and a happy, healthy prosperous new year for you as well. 🙂
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😎
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You share such a positive attitude, which is the best gift to pass along to others. Blessings. 🌟✨💫
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AWWWWW!!!!! thank you. I try. It’s not always easy though, that’s for sure.
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Keep doing what you’re doing! 👏👏👏
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You are always so sweet! Thank you. 🙂
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Jeanne – I want to wish you a belated Happy New Year! It sounds like you had a lot of fun! We had black-eyed peas as well! I am always looking for different ways to use the ingredients that I grew up with, so thanks for sharing this!
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My pleasure. Happy New Year to as too. 🙂
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