Good Luck Foods For The New Year

The new year is upon us! Can you believe it will be 2012? Where did the time go? New Year's Eve is a time for partying and revelry, forgetting the old year that has passed. But New Year's Day brings the promise of a better year, a more prosperous one. Many cultures believe that eating specific foods on the first day of the new year brings luck, wealth and prosperity. It's a tradition that's worth upholding even if you're not a believer in luck.

From Europe to South America, people have been eating lucky foods for centuries. Browse our guide for the dishes you should be eating this New Year's Day. You'll find that eating fish and pork brings lots of luck, but chicken and lobster is to be avoided at all costs. And you might think it's strange to stuff your face with twelve grapes on New Year's Eve, but it might just work and bring you luck. What's the harm in at least trying?

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Comments

[ragdolly]

08:53 PM on 01/01/2012

One of my favorite foods for winter is Hot Banana Bread Pudding. I don't even know when or how I started making it, but it is yummy, comforting and healthy. It is made with bananas, whole grain bread, vanilla homemade pudding (no whole eggs and no refined sugar or whole milk)walnuts, and spices of one's choice. I use cinnamon. After assembly, it is baked for a few minutes at high heat so that it is brown and crispy on top.I thought about it all day today and wished that I had remembered to make it. :0)

[maria52]

10:46 PM on 01/01/2012

Hey, that sounds yummy. My Mother used to make (and I did, too once or twice), the banana pudding with Vanilla wafers. Oh, I think that started in the South, though not sure. I think the recipe was on the back of the box. Anyway, that is a decadent dessert, but good. I like your idea because it sounds healthy and still delicious. :)

[ragdolly]

02:53 AM on 01/02/2012

My mom was from the south and she made it the way you describe. It was so good. I try to use only the healthiest of ingredients and my husband loves bread pudding. This is in between , more moist than bread pudding yet with a crispy top...uh oh..I'm getting hungry..do you have a favorite comfort food? :0)

[Coyotebleu]

06:42 PM on 01/01/2012

I've just gotta say it. That main picture looked very unappetizing, and being Greek, I love lentils. One would think that these 'professional' cooks, would know how to present and plate a dish.
Other than that, it was interesting to know about these food traditions. Oddly enough, I had a craving for black eyed peas the other day. Tonight, I'm making stuffed red bell peppers with wild rice, swiss chard from my garden, banana-passion fruit bread w/passion fruit butter, and home made apple pie. Perhaps, I will put a trinket in it. Happy New Years to all! Keep Hope Alive!

[maria52]

07:54 PM on 01/01/2012

That's sounds delicious. I made some lentil dahl today. Delicious and good for cold weather comfort. I love stuffed red bell peppers. I stuff mine with regular long grain white rice and other things. The banana-passion fruit bread sounds intriguing and so does the fruit butter.
Happy New Years to you also!

[BookGoddess]

05:46 PM on 01/01/2012

Forgot--didn't have my haggis this year--sigh!

[BookGoddess]

05:42 PM on 01/01/2012

After reading all these comments--I'm starving! Going to get my black-eyed peas and greens now. Will try some of the other dishes later. Hope everyone has a GREAT 2012!

[RButler]

05:24 PM on 01/01/2012

My Greek grandmother called lentil soup 'fukee'. We always kick out of that.

[Waiting for Something]

05:11 PM on 01/01/2012

Made curried lentils with spinach and am enjoying it with red wine and crusty bread...maybe it will be a good year!

[Nana610]

04:39 PM on 01/01/2012

Homemade donuts today!

[BeasleysMom]

04:27 PM on 01/01/2012

Whew. I am good to go!

[invergarry]

04:26 PM on 01/01/2012

Blackeyed peas with leftover hambone from Thanksgiving in the Crockpot, greens with smoked neckbones on the stove. I'll be making the rice for the Hoppin' John and the cornbread for the greens right before dinner. Who says Florida isn't the South?

[Nana610]

04:32 PM on 01/01/2012

That sounds heavenly!

[AKJM]

04:51 PM on 01/01/2012

What do you think of what looks like a wilted collard green salad?

[expat50]

04:08 PM on 01/01/2012

Mexico - Menudo
Norway - pickled herring or creamed herring

[The Albany Kid]

03:48 PM on 01/01/2012

I was a little disappointed to see that Hoppin' John wasn't included, but at least black-eyed peas (a key ingredient) were included.

[simpleperson]

03:47 PM on 01/01/2012

Pinto beans, corn bread, fried potatoes, cooked cabbage or slaw, pickled beets.

Some form of cabbage for good luck.

Here's hoping the New Year is better than the last for everyone.

[CBWood]

03:34 PM on 01/01/2012

It's pork and saurkraut for us EVERY New Year's Day...for luck and prosperity in the coming year..working great so far!

[RiceStarz]

02:29 PM on 01/01/2012

For us, we will have fresh ham, candied sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, broccoli, asparagus, hoppin john ( tinned though as I am the only one who will eat them), rolls and my best apple pie. Any time one can put food on the table is good luck, however my hubby will disagree when his diet starts tomorrow:-D

Peace, love, smiles and success for all in the new year.

[bebecca]

02:26 PM on 01/01/2012

We eat pork and some type of cabbage with a silver coin in it-an old family tradition for luck.