Welcome to The Buzz

There are many traditions I have seen throughout the year for New Years:  kissing your girl at the stroke of midnight, drinking one's self into a coma to celebrate (however one does that), making resolutions that rarely are kept longer than 48 hours.  The one tradition that I have kept throughout the years, no matter where I was or what I was doing, was to have black eyed peas, specifically in Hoppin' John Soup.  According to my family's tradition, eating black eyed peas on the first day of the New Year is supposed to bring good luck.  Considering the year I have had last year, I'd hate to see what "luck" I would have had if I had not eaten any.

But neither here nor there, to the store I went this morning to procure the ingredients for my Hoppin' John Soup.  This was actually what put me on the map here at allrecipes.com as about 7 years ago I put my quick hoppin' john recipe up here and I have been getting great reviews for it ever since.  I just couldn't believe that other were using it, and their stories about using it really makes my family smile.  How neat that my father's recipe is in others kitchens and used (sometimes more than just the once a year).  

What makes the recipe so great is that its almost impossible to screw it up.  I've used different sausages, dried black eyed peas, no tomatoes, different types of rice, even added potatoes and the like.  Its a great recipe to share and play with.  I hope everyone enjoys it again this year, and may 2012 be better than any year you've had so far in this crazy world!