Tuesday, December 28, 2010

"Hoppin' John" My New Year's Tradition

It has long been a tradition among many groups to serve Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day for good luck in the coming year.  My first thought was, "Why didn't they make Porter House Steak a good luck tradition for The New Year?"

The lowly blackeyed pea has too little taste . . . for MY taste.  But, here I set, looking at a pot of black eyed peas wondering, "What to do, what to do?"

Well, here's what I did!

SNOWYOWL'S HOPPIN' JOHN
1½ cup-Chopped Red Onion
1½ cup-Chopped Ham
1½ cup-Chopped Poblano Pepper (Sweet not Hot)
2 Tbsp-Peanut Oil
2 15oz. cans of black eyed peas (Keep ¾ cup of liquid)
4 Tbsp or more to taste, of Salsa Snowyowl (Can be found at: http://swoopsfromsnowyowl.blogspot.com/2009/09/recipe-for-salsa.html) on my Sept. 18th, 2009 post!  Or, you might want to use Pace's Medium or Hot Salsa as a substitute.
7 oz. Hominy, drained
2 oz. Pimientos, undrained
2½ oz. sliced, ripe Olives, drained
¾ cup sliced Mushrooms

In a large skillet, saute onion, pepper and ham in oil for 3 minutes.  Drain Blackeyed Peas and retain ¾ cup of liquid.  Add blackeyed peas and retained liquid, Salsa, hominy, mushrooms, pimientos and and olives to ham mixture.  Stir to combine then heat over medium heat to a boil. Then simmer for an hour on low.

In my 'fridge, I have two special "Condiments" that I use other than the standard stuff.  One is blueberries and the other is chopped onions.  I have found that whatever I can't improve the flavor of with onions, I can with blueberries.  In this instance, use those chopped onions on top of the finished product when served.  Might want to sprinkle a little pepper jack cheese too.  It's up to you.

As in most of this type of recipe, this is gonna taste much better tomorrow than it does today.  If you can do it a day or so ahead of time and keep your hands off of it, then let it set for a day.  As Grandma always said, "Let it Fester," it will taste even better.

Friday, December 17, 2010

A Poem Worth Reading!

A POEM WORTH READING

And sharing!
(Author unknown)


He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.


Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.


And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.


But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.


He won t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.


He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.


When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.


Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.


Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?


Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?


The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.


While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.


It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.


Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?


Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?


He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.


For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.


If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.


Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Friday, December 10, 2010

A Simple Song of Freedom

I am reminded constantly how much life is nothing but a circle!  If you keep a tie long enough, it'll come back into style.  Here's an old song by Bobby Darin that is so true now that it seems to defy logic.

Simple Song Of Freedom (True After All These Years) 

By Bobby Darin


Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war


Hey there, Mister Black Man can you hear me?
I don't want your diamonds or your game
I just want to be, someone known to you as me
and I will bet my life you want the same


Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war


Seven hundred million are you listening?
Most of what you read is made of lies
But speaking one to one, ain't it everybody's sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise?


So come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war


Brother Yareshenko are you busy?
If not would you drop a friend a line?
Tell me if the man, who is plowing up your land
has got the war machine upon his mind


Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we, the people here, don't want a war


Now no doubt some folks enjoy doin' battle
Like Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings
So let's build them shelves where they can fight among themselves
and leave the people be who like to sing


Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here, don't want a war


Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here, don't want a war