We’ve never understood how corned beef and cabbage captured two holidays, and we really don’t understand the need to eat a dirty little bean like black-eyed peas in order to have good luck in the new year. It’s like doing penance before even sinning! On the other hand,....is it wise to tempt fate?
For many years now I have been experimenting with more creative ways to hide the flavor of both cabbage and black-eyed peas. In the days when we still entertained at The Cool Water Ranch I had cole slaw and a fresh cilantro lime vinaigrette bean salad. There was no way I would serve a Grandma version of black-eyed peas and cabbage to guests. And last year I abandoned the whole idea and ate regular food on this day. How bad could it be? I reasoned, if I don’t eat a stupid little bean the first day of the year?
Well, nothing really dreadful happened, but they sure know us now in the ER, so I approach New Year’s Day 2025 chastened and ready to come back to the fold. I’m nuts about coleslaw so that was easy, but what about the bean?
The meat pies I made for Christmas were a big hit so I made more of the filling, but pie crusts are too time consuming. I rinsed off a can of black-eyed peas and mixed them in with the meat filling, topped it with some sharp cheddar and scooped it up with some Zapp’s Crawtators. Yeah, yeah, yeah… I’m not trying for a James Beard Award here. Just begging for mercy from the gods.
It was a tasty but admittedly non-gourmet first meal of 2025. Here’s wishing you great luck and prosperity in this new year, with or without the superstitious foods.
The recipe for coleslaw is in this website’s Recipe section.
And the meat pie filling is a great starter for spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherd’s pie, Sloppy Joe’s, or anything that calls for ground meat. I often use it to start a cast iron skillet meal mixed with spaghetti and cheese on top.
The following ingredients can be used in whatever portions you like, or you can delete them or add to them.
Ground beef, brisket, round - your choice
Garlic, onion, celery, red bell pepper, parsley, oregano, grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped fresh spinach, chopped mushrooms.
Add to this some Worcestershire sauce and about ¼ cup of ketchup.
Here’s the real recipe:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. ground round
½ chopped small onion
6 cloves garlic
3 ribs celery, chopped
½ large red bell pepper, chopped
A handful chopped parsley
A few sprigs fresh oregano
Two handfuls fresh spinach chopped
5 or 6 Baby Bella mushrooms chopped (optional)
8 small grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ c Worcestershire sauce
6 T ketchup
Creole seasoning and salt to taste.
Cook this down to a crumbly filling and fill pies, make sauces, stuff bell peppers, etc.
