FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS HAPPY NEW YEAR

It is a long-standing tradition in African American families to indulge in a family or communal New Year's Day dinner featuring cabbage or greens, which symbolize greenbacks (paper money), black-eyed peas which symbolize coins and both giving good luck for the New Year. Our family New Year tradition brings the whole family together (4 Generations)  sharing the first meal of the year with a traditional soul food dinner. No matter how you celebrate it, we hope you have a happy new year!

This month I will only feature three recipes but they are some oldies but goodies.

KWANZAA PRINCIPLE DAY-6

6th Kwanzaa Principle: Kuumba or Creativity

Health Principle: Use imagination to keep diet and exercise routines 
Okra, Corn and Tomatoes

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen cut okra
1 (14.5 ounce)cans diced tomatoes
1(20 ounce) packages frozen corn
2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 - 1 tsp Cayenne pepper(depending on your heat tolerance).

Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir to release some of the juices, and then add the onion and okra. Fry until tender and browned, stirring constantly. Add a little vinegar or squeeze of lemon can be used to brighten the taste and reduce the sliminess.Be careful, as this tends to brown quickly. Pour in the tomatoes, and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Mix in the corn, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Season with Creole seasoning, salt and pepper, and serve.


To make this a one pot meal, add 1/2 pound of cook chicken and ½ pound of kielbasa sausages use a little sprayed in a pan, cook the smoked sausage until it’s a bit blackened on both sides and add with the corn. You can also try 1 pound of clean and deveined raw shrimp add with the corn. Its great serviced over white rice.