Happy NewYear.

New year's Eve. Glenda Larke (Tropic Temper see link this page) has listed her year in retrospect. I don't think I could. What was of interest I blogged about already and I have more or less forgotten since then. Matt has been reading the first of my Blog2Print books and I have read the odd thing over his shoulder (going back to 2007) which I didn't remember happening - when he has finished, I will have to go through them myself and see what I wrote, *g*. I still haven't got to a stationary store yet to buy three ring binders in which to put these books. They are loosely held together with twist ties at the moment. Maybe next year. Tomorrow is the day I love to offer people a cookie or something and then remark that I hope they are alright as I have had them since last year. Someone said that to me when I was in my teens and I have been using it every year since, I thought it was so funny. Who says I can't remember things?? I don't think we will do much tonight, maybe have a glass of bubbly at 12 having watched the ball drop in Times Square. There is a segment about this from GMA this morning at http://abcnews.go.com/gma if you want to look at it. Melissa Rycroft is standing in the snow in Times Square talking about the big Waterford Crystal Ball which she then lights up by flipping a switch. Tonight everything will be lit up including the year numerals which as I told you before, have been powered by people riding bicycles to store battery energy.

I can't imagine anyone interested in cooking tonight unless you are a Southerner and will be making black eyed peas for tomorrow (even if tomorrow starts at 12:01 p.m.) - all you really need to do is - oh well here's a recipe:

Black-eyed Peas (aka Hoppin' John) 1 pkg. Black-eyed peas (16 oz.), fresh or frozen (if you use dried, follow the directions on the pkg.) 4 c. water 4 c. chicken broth 3 slices bacon, sliced in small pieces/or cubed ham 1 med. onion (1/2 c.) chopped 1 c. green, red, yellow bell peppers, diced (any combination) 2 cloves garlic, minced seasoned salt/pepper, Lawry's, Mrs. Dash, or Cavendars, to taste green bean snaps (optional) 1 c. cooked rice (optional) 1 jalapeno pepper, minced (optional) 1 andouille sausage (optional) Fry bacon in dutch oven or pan till well done. Pour off grease, deglaze remaining drippings by sauteing onions and peppers. Add water, broth, black-eyed peas, seasonings, and any optional ingredients. Bring to a gentile boil (not rolling, or you will burst the peas), reduce heat, simmer 45 minutes - 1 1/2 hrs. Linda recommends cooking early, refrigerating and reheating before serving the next day. For Hoppin' John, serve over rice I wish you all a Very Happy New Year.