New Year's Day Eating for Prosperity

Many different cultures have many different ideas on what to eat on New Year's Day in order to assure you will have a prosperous New Year. In the south, where they say "eat poor on New Year’s and eat fat the rest of the year,” it is believed that eating Black Eyed Peas will keep you eating fat in the year to come.

Italians believe that eating lentils, which resemble coins, will help to ring in prosperity. Chinese tradition is to eat a whole fish, symbolizing the beginning and the end. Here in New England, with our Irish and German roots, it is believed that eating cabbage is the key to luck and fortune in the New Year.

Who am I to turn a cheek on tradition and potential good luck! I devised this recipe last New Year's, and it even landed me in the final cook off for a contest at Whole Foods!

Make this meal for you and your loved ones on Jan. 1, and you are off to a 2012 full of wonderful and delicious things! I originally posted this recipe on Eat.Live.Blog on Jan. 3, 2011.

If you are looking for a delicious and stunning dinner to wow your guests on New Year's Eve, try this recipe for Osso Bucco! 

Beer Braised Pork and Sauerkraut

Ingredients:

Directions:

• In a medium stockpot, heat the olive oil
• Sprinkle both sides of the chops with salt and pepper
• Place chops in pot and brown for 3-5 minutes, or until brown
• Flip chops
• Put onions and apples in the pot and allow to brown with the chops, stirring occasionally
• After 5 minutes, flip the chops again and allow to brown for a couple more minutes
• Pour in the beer and bring to a medium boil
• Allow to boil for 2 minutes
• Pour sauerkraut on top of chops, mixing slightly with the liquid
• Sprinkle sugar on top of kraut
• Bring to a simmer
• Reduce heat and allow to simmer for at least 1 hour, or until chops are tender
• Serve with mashed potatoes or German potato salad