Good Luck In The New Year

The wish “Good Luck In The New Year“ will be spoken in many different languages by millions of people around the world as we ring in the New Year. Part of this annual celebration may include eating certain foods that people believe will bring them luck, good health, happiness and prosperity.

There are a variety of foods that are symbolic of coins or money such lentils, peas, beans, kale, collard greens, cabbage and sauerkraut. Fish is regarded as a symbol of moving forward and abundance since they swim in large groups. Pork is symbolic of progress as pigs push forward when eating and their fat represents wealth and prosperity. In many of the Spanish speaking countries, people eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year, with a special wish for good luck.

I thought I would give you some ideas of what you might want to prepare for either New Year’s eve or day to try and bring yourself some “good luck in the New Year“. No matter whether you will be celebrating with just one special person or are planning a party for some of your friends, you will find the linked recipes to be easy to prepare and delicious.

If you want to follow the tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight, you might want to serve Roasted Grapes With Warm Brie Crostini. It is a sweet and savory appetizer that takes mere minutes to put together. They are perfect finger food to enjoy with your glass of chilled Champagne as the clock strikes midnight and you make your special wish.

Roasted Grapes And Warm Brie Crostini

If you want to serve a main course of fish for abundance in the New Year, Sautéed Flounder Topped With A Shrimp Cream Sauce is a wonderful dish. The light shrimp cream sauce compliments the delicate flavor and texture of the flounder without overwhelming it. Diced tomato and basil added at the last minute makes for a pretty presentation.

Sautéed Flounder Topped With A Shrimp Cream Sauce

If you are thinking of a pork dish as the main course for wealth and prosperity in the New Year, Pork Tenderloin With Gorgonzola Sauce and Chopped Walnuts will certainly be special enough for the celebration. Serve the pork with Polenta Cakes Fried In Brown Butter And Sage.

Pork Tenderloin With Gorgonzola Sauce

For a more casual affair you might consider a traditional German New Year’s meal of Smoked Pork Chops With Sauerkraut served with buttered mashed potatoes.

Pork Chops And Sauerkraut

Or if you leaning more towards a Latin influenced meal, Cuban Pork With Black Beans And Rice is easy to prepare ahead of time for a large group of friends.

My Version Of Cuban Pork With Black Beans And Rice

If you live in the southern part of the States and eat black-eyed peas for good luck, you might be making Hoppin’ John or Texas Caviar. I’ve got another suggestion, Black- eyed Pea Risotto for a little bit of an Italian influence.

Black-eyed Pea Risotto

If you would enjoy more exotic flavors to start the New Year, then you might like to try my vegetarian version of Harira, A Moroccan Chickpea And Lentil Soup. It is a deliciously spiced and fragrant soup you will love. You can add lamb Merguez sausages on the side for the meat eaters you might be serving.

Harira, A Moroccan Chickpea And Lentil Soup With Spicy Merguez Sausage

I’ve shared some of my favorite dishes with you that incorporate food ingredients that many people believe will bring them luck, good health, happiness and prosperity. I hope you will get a chance to try some of them.

I will end with my own wish of “Good Luck In The New Year”, may 2015 be everything you hope it will be. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me at Back Road Journal, it is always a pleasure having you stop by for a visit.