hoppin' johns

skipvia commented on the word hoppin' johns

Blackeyed peas (or in some circles blackeye peas) cooked with rice. Traditionally served on New Year's Day along with ham and greens for good luck during the next year. Blackeyed peas represent coins, the greens represent folding money, and ham symbolizes good luck, according to my mom...

January 4, 2008

bilby commented on the word hoppin' johns

Really interesting Skip. In Italy they eat lentils at this time of year with the same rationale, ie. symbolise money.

In Australia we call them black-eye beans and I have a really good recipe given to me by Xxxx who learned it from Xxxx who was stationed in Xxxx during the Second World War. Maybe I'll post it when things have sorted themselves out. But I love these peas and they make good sprouts too :-)

January 4, 2008

chained_bear commented on the word hoppin' johns

We always called it hoppin' john. But then, we also ate sauerkraut for good luck on New Year's Day. It symbolizes... uh... money. And farts.

Though, in all seriousness, beans, lentils, and other legumes have long--by which I mean for thousands of years, in many different cultures--symbolized wealth. When famine is a real and frequent occurrence, you tend to value foods that are nutritious, filling, and last a long time without spoiling, as dried beans, peas, and lentils do.

January 4, 2008

skipvia commented on the word hoppin' johns

C_B: Pretty much any way you cut it (har!), this meal has a high flatulence coefficient.

We often had cabbage instead of turnip or collard greens when fresh ones weren't available, so sauerkraut counts!

January 4, 2008

reesetee commented on the word hoppin' johns

True, c_b. Why, when I was dirt-poor, I subsisted on many cans of beans. I was not pleasant to be around, for various reasons. Not that I was ever starving, mind you.

*wonders why the new year is consistently celebrated with flatus-inducing foods*

January 4, 2008