It is a tradition to wish one another good luck for the New Year. Black-eyed peas represent good luck. Black-eyed peas can be cooked on the stove top or in a crock pot. I recommend putting a large slice of Spanish Serrano ham into the mixture. This is a salty dried ham that will add flavor. There is no need to add salt to the black-eyed peas since the ham contains salt. Flavor the peas with a touch of sugar.

For fun offer your friends and family a time capsule to record their wishes for the New Year. Open up the time capsules next year. A festive favorite to sweeten the New Year is Poires au Vin or Pears in Red Wine. Enjoy the celebration with this wonderful dessert – as pears represent longevity. Kelly McBride Loft

Pears in Red Wine
A ripe pear, per person
1 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon (red wine)
1 cup of sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
1 lemon rind (preferably in one piece)
2 teaspoons of arrowroot
Toasted almond slivers

In a 6 qt. Dutch oven, on the stove, stir and dissolve the sugar into the red wine. Add the cinnamon sticks and the whole lemon rind. Peel the ripe pears, leaving the stem. Place the pears into the heated wine. Simmer and turn the pears for at least 1 to 2 hours. Roll the pears with wooden spoons to prevent dents. Completely soak and cook the pears until the color of the wine has permeated the pears. Remove the tender pears by the stems and place onto the dessert plates. Thicken the wine sauce with arrowroot (mixed first with a little water). Pour the thicken sauce onto each pear and top with toasted almonds. For a larger guest count and for more time to prepare other dishes, place the wine mixture into a crock pot and cover the pears completely with the red wine mixture. This method is less maintenance but requires more wine. Also, the cooking time is longer. Enjoy and Happy New Year!