Do you eat anything special for New Year's Day dinner to bring you luck for the new year? In my family, we've always had sauerkraut. Even though my mother is Italian, we've always had it on New Year's day. I'm not crazy about it, but I always make it, too. The one year I didn't, we didn't have a very good year, so I don't dare skip it now! I'm making it in the crockpot with a pork loin (I WILL skip the meat), and mashed potatoes, cauliflower w/cheese sauce, green beans, black-eyed peas (for me!), and cornbread. For dessert I'm making apple crisp, and there'll be ice cream and leftover cheesecake from the freezer, too.

No special foods here. Your dinner sounds yummy.

Hmmmm....I'm thinking a pork tenderloin and spinach. Is that close enough to pork roast and sauerkraut, Cottage? I may soak some black-eyed peas overnight and cook them too.

You gotta throw some cabbage in there, Ruthie! For luck, you know. But the black-eyed peas may be enough to do it for you.

We always had greens and black eyed peas or hoppin' john. Personally I don't like any of this, so I won't be making any of it!

We don't have that sort of tradition in my family, but my husband and I like to have a special meal on New Year's Eve. Generally I like to cook something that's sort of European. Tonight it's French onion soup, which we will have with some baguette and gruyere, plus a mixed green salad, maybe some asparagus for me, and a glass or two of spumante. Oh, also baked brie and roasted garlic cloves to have on some of the bread. This is one of my planned off-plan days...though I'm going to limit my carbs and alcohol so I don't feel horrendous tomorrow.

OK - the spinach will be for another meal. I'll do braised cabbage with the pork.

So funny you mentioned this!! I was planning on making polish sausage and sauerkraut in the crockpot tomorrow. I didn't know that brought luck.... so glad I planned on it! We need all the help we can get for 2009!

Here is our menu for the day. We combine northern (me) and southern (dh) traditions. I'm starting on the SB tomorrow, so this is ok for today only. Sorry..

pork roast & sauerkraut
mashed potatoes & gravy
collard greens & cornbread
black-eyed peas
corn
rolls
dessert

Geez, now I'm starving...

Always black eyed peas for good luck and cabbage for money. I cooked both yesterday and have them all ready to go. Traditionally it's also a pork roast, but this year we are going with chops.
Karen, thanks for the reminder of corn bread. I forgot all about it since I don't eat it anymore. Hope I have some corn meal around here somewhere!

Pork roast, sauerkraut, and black-eyed peas for us. The peas are for luck and money, my grandmother says.

We have never done any of these foods but you all convinced me and I've got black eyed peas soaking Now to find a recipe!