# Eating black-eyed peas for New Year's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252 "2010-01-01T02:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/1 "2010-01-01T02:56:36Z")
I never heard about this until tonight. My wife’s mom served it to her family from time to time during her childhood at the turn of the year, and although this was in Vermont, a little Googling leads me to believe this is a Southern tradition. Any Dopers have black-eyed peas for a New Year’s feast? Would that be on NYE or on the day itself? And where are you from? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/2 "2010-01-01T02:58:54Z")
We always have black eyed peas, and I grew up in Texas. ETA: we eat them day-of. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/3 "2010-01-01T02:59:43Z")
Hoppin’ John on New Years Day. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/4 "2010-01-01T03:03:09Z")
I’ve had a bowl already! 😃 And there’s plenty more for tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll also have ham hock and collard greens, and chipotle-cheddar cornbread. My mom was from Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/5 "2010-01-01T03:09:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hoppin’ John on New Years Day. This exactly. I usually make some and we’ll eat a couple of bites on NYE, but it’s more like lunch and/or dinner on New Year’s Day. I thought about making some and bringing it to the place we’re heading to in a few, but ended up spending the day shopping for pajamas instead. (To wear to said place.) 😉 Happy New Year! Oh, and my dad is from Louisiana. I’m from NJ. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/6 "2010-01-01T03:11:48Z")
I’ve started eating them b/c my mom a few years ago began insisting. It’s pretty common here—hard to find a can this evening. I have to season them a LOT personally, but the way I do them, they aren’t bad. Originally from Kentucky, lived in TX since I was nine. My bf, basically a native Texan, has been eating them New Years Day since he was a kid. He hated them, but his mom always made him eat at least a spoonful. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/7 "2010-01-01T03:22:02Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > hard to find a can this evening. I have to season them a LOT personally… Oh, god; no! I had black-eyed peas from a can once. Once. I didn’t like the canned beans at all. Nasty. I make mine using dried beans. Soak the beans overnight, drain and rinse in the morning, cover with water, throw in a couple of ham hocks. Cook in a slow-cooker for six or eight hours. Take out the bones and skin, shred the meat, and return the meat to the pot. Add salt (after cooking) if needed, as well as a few good shakes of cayenne pepper. Some people put other things in it (bay leaves and such), but mine come out fine every time. Easy-peasy. Avoid the can! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/8 "2010-01-01T03:36:32Z")
Yep, every year. Grew up in TN, now living in AZ. Mine are soaking and I’ll cook them to eat tomorrow with collards. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/9 "2010-01-01T03:41:52Z")
With fresh onion, flavored with pork (like what vegetable _isn’t?_)… but while black-eyed peas are nice, if you’re sufficiently lucky you get to feast on purple hull peas, crowder peas, spring peas, big boy peas, butterpeas, pink-eyed peas, cream peas, acre peas, and a dozen or so OTHER varieties of which blackeyes are just the best-known example …but yeah blackeyes are traditional for New Years. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/10 "2010-01-01T03:46:32Z")
It’s on the day itself. Pork, collards, and black eyed peas. In other words, a nasty-ass nightmare. I just eat the cornbread. (I make good hoppin’ john myself, but my mom does the New Year’s dinner thing. Dry gross pork loin, too - not my gorgeous moist tenderloins or barbeque or something.) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/11 "2010-01-01T04:08:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And there’s plenty more for tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll also have ham hock and collard greens, and chipotle-cheddar cornbread. ! Do you really live in LA? I might want to visit tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/12 "2010-01-01T04:09:55Z")
Day of. Collards are for money/prosperity. Black-eyed peas are for luck. My family usually had ham or a delicious slow-cooked pork loin, but the veggie SO and I are just sticking with the collards, peas, and cornbread. And lots and lots of college football 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/13 "2010-01-01T04:28:17Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > ! Do you really live in LA? I might want to visit tomorrow. I’d be glad to have you, but I no longer live in L.A. I didn’t feel like changing my username when I moved. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/14 "2010-01-01T04:43:13Z")
I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic region. Tomorrow’s menu: Ham with brown sugar Collard greens with vinegar Black-eyed peas Cornbread And the Rose Bowl. Go Ducks! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/15 "2010-01-01T04:54:35Z")
They’s a cookin’ raht now, downstairs, **EH** , and all of what’s in the above ( **Susan’s** post! 🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/16 "2010-01-01T05:13:04Z")
My charming/charmless wife has a name for them, despite her southern relatives. Suffice it to say she does not serve them. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/17 "2010-01-01T07:39:12Z")
I cooked them with collards and a ham hock once, but the ham hock was WAY too salty and spoiled the whole thing. Now I just make soup: saute celery, onion, green pepper, add a can or two of diced tomatoes, a rinsed drained can of black eyed peas, some kind of broth if needed, sliced sausage or pieces of ham, bay leaf, hot sauce, sometimes little pink lentils, simmer, throw in some spinach at the end. As you might guess, it’s flexible. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/18 "2010-01-01T08:11:20Z")
I tried to, but Fergie didn’t want to go down without a fight. Seriously, no, but not for want of tremendous pressure from my mother, who was born in Oklahoma. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/19 "2010-01-01T08:12:37Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I cooked them with collards and a ham hock once… That reads like you cooked the beans and greens together. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/20 "2010-01-01T08:16:38Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I cooked them with collards and a ham hock once, but the ham hock was WAY too salty and spoiled the whole thing. Now I just make soup: saute celery, onion, green pepper, add a can or two of diced tomatoes, a rinsed drained can of black eyed peas, some kind of broth if needed, sliced sausage or pieces of ham, bay leaf, hot sauce, sometimes little pink lentils, simmer, throw in some spinach at the end. As you might guess, it’s flexible. WOW! As Grampa Jones and “The Gang” on _Hee-Haw_ used to holler: **“Yum-Yum”**!🙂 I’m “flexible” too! (And I LOVE black eyed peas!) Hint, Hint!🙂 J/K;) Have a great New Year’s Day! Q [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252.md?page=2)