Here is this year's version of the meal.
I simmered some smoked ham hocks along with the ham bone from Christmas dinner, all from a hog we bought last fall. I picked the meat from the bones and then seasoned and thickened it into a rich gravy. I spooned the meaty gravy over homemade buttermilk biscuits and served it with cooked turnip greens (from last year's garden) and black-eyed peas that I pressure-canned several months ago. I added some green beans (because Kat doesn't really like greens) and some tall glasses of sweet iced tea. I didn't make a dessert this year because we still have plenty of treats left over from Christmas, but pumpkin or sweet potato pie would be just right with this meal.
It's a simple meal, but it's rich in flavor and tradition. I could cook this meal anytime, but I usually only make it on New Year's Day and I look forward to it all year long!
Do you have any traditional dishes you serve on the first day of the year?
