What better way to spend New Year’s day than with The Mummer’s Parade , and the Three F’s – Family, Friends, and Food?!?

Today we will be hosting Christmas Redux. A gathering of relatives we don’t get to see on Christmas. More presents, more fun, and, of course, more food! This is an easy party for us, because everyone brings stuff! I’m making Hoppin’ John (because I can’t fathom Pork and Sauerkraut!!)

The basic is…

• 2 cups dried black-eyed peas
• 6 cups water
• 3/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 2 lbs ham hocks
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Soak peas in the 6 cups water overnight. Transfer to large pot and add onion, celery, and ham hocks. Cook, covered about 45 minutes. Add rice and pepper and simmer about 1 more hour. Remove meat from bones, stir back in. Serve hot.

Naturally, I can’t just make the basic! It’s rather boring, if truth be told… I start out by chopping up a package of thick-sliced Neiman Ranch bacon, and sauteing it with the onion and celery. I drain the beans and sub 4 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups water. Add the ham hocks and simmer. Then it’s a cup of brown rice, pepper, and Louisiana Hot Sauce! Yumlicious!

There’s also a turkey breast in the oven. It was from Victor’s mom, who received it for Christmas from the place she lives. It had a “Gravy Packet” inside that I opened, smelled, and threw away! OMG! The only smell I got was chemical! I pity the family that actually would use such a travesty! I mean, heck, REAL gravy is just too easy to make! I shudder at the thought of eating that stuff!

I also made a very basic Sausage Bread Dressing, and will be making the Cherry Maple Sausage in Puff Pastryand the Ham and Gorgonzola Won Tons later on… It’s going to be an easy kitchen day for us!

Also arriving will be a baked ham, homemeade mac and cheese, salads, pepperoni bread, antipasto platters… Plus stuff I just can’t remember right now!

I don’t think anyone will walk away hungry…..

And nobody did!