I have lived with a Southerner for almost 35 years... and every January 1st, I am expected to produce a meal encompassing the big three of Southern good luck foods: black-eyed peas, greens, and pork...
This year, I suggested, naively, that, as this combination had not been a total success over the past few years, perhaps the good luck foods weren't so lucky, and maybe we should go in another direction.
I was met with a blank stare... and I realized that, again this year, I would be making a meal virtually unchanged in generations... dare I say it... since the Civil War (they call it something else down there!).
So... black-eyed peas (which I love) and greens (which I love) and cornbread (which I love), and the one change I've been able to enact... hot Italian sausage, which is indeed pork (though not the traditional hog jowl)...
So all in all... though I like to make trouble about it... it's a meal I love!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!