Ya Ya

To kick off 2014, I am making black eyed pea gumbo. I saw a recipe on Pinterest, and liked the idea. However, there were a few ingredients my family won't go for, so I had to change things up. 

Black eyed peas are  a traditional New Years food. From Macon.com:

Eating black-eyed peas on the first day of the year is believed to bring good luck in the coming year. Although exactly how the black-eyed pea became associated with good luck and prosperity is in question, it is believed that the tradition began during the Civil War.

Black-eyed peas were the only food spared by Gen. William T. Sherman and his Union troops during their destructive march through the South. Union troops found the beans to be fit only for use as animal fodder.

Thus, black-eyed peas helped save surviving Confederates from starvation and were thereafter regarded as a symbol of good luck.

The tradition of consuming black-eyed peas in honor of the New Year may also be tied to Jewish culture. The Talmud lists the small white bean as a food to be eaten during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, for good fortune.

Sephardic Jews arrived in the American South in the early 18th century. Their culture and traditions likely mingled with those of African slaves and other colonial residents to spread the practice of eating black-eyed peas in celebration of the New Year.

Since I want my family to have all the luck in the world, we are having our gumbo.

1 can black eyed peas, drained

8 c water

2 tbsp turmeric

3 tbsp red pepper flakes

3 cloves garlic minced

Dash olive oil

Dash salt

3 carrots chopped

1 c cooked pasta

1 pkg kielbasa

Day old bread

Sauté garlic in olive oil. Add carrots & water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Add seasonings. Simmer 30 minutes. Add peas. 20 minutes before serving, add kielbasa, pasta & bread.

Serve hot.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/01/01/2855555/the-story-behind-traditional-new.html#storylink=cpy