Many people have a traditional food they eat on New Year’s Day.  My family and the majority of my friends and acquaintances eat cabbage.  It is believed that cabbage represents good luck and prosperity… the same for black-eyed peas.  So for those that carry on this New Year Day tradition, or want to start, here are some great cabbage recipes and a black-eyed pea recipe:

Healthy Cabbage Soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 (32 oz.) boxes of chicken stock (low sodium)
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
• 1/2 head cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, drained and diced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

1. In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook until onion is transparent, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in chicken stock,Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir in cabbage. Simmer until cabbage wilts, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in tomatoes. Return to a boil, then simmer 15 to 30 minutes, stirring often.

This healthy cabbage soup recipe is great for New Years, but is also perfect for any cold day.  It also is great if you have a cold or flu.  It is healthy and low in calories.  If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier, this is a great cabbage recipe to start the year off with.  If however, you want to make it a little more hardy, you can add a little smoked sausage to it.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup uncooked white rice
• 8 cabbage leaves
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup or 1 can tomato sauce

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Bring a large, wide saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cabbage leaves and cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until softened; drain.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, 1 cup cooked rice, onion, egg, salt and pepper, along with 2 tablespoons of tomato soup. Mix thoroughly.
4. Divide the beef mixture evenly among the cabbage leaves. Roll and secure them with toothpicks or string.
5. In a large skillet over medium heat, place the cabbage rolls and pour the remaining tomato soup over the top. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring and basting with the liquid often.

If you use lean beef and substitute 2 egg whites for the 1 whole egg this cabbage roll recipe isn’t all that bad, health wise.  I’ve never substituted turkey for the ground beef; but it would probably work as well and be even healthier.

Fried Cabbage

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon, cut into thirds
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 head cabbage, cored and sliced
• 1-3 banana peppers, chopped or 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 pinch white sugar

Directions

1. Place the bacon and olive oil into a large pot or pan over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Add cabbage, banana peppers or onion, and sugar to the pot; cook and stir continuously for 15 minutes, or until tender.

This fried cabbage recipe isn’t the healthiest of the cabbage recipes but is my favorite.  I love the taste of the fried cabbage and banana peppers together… yummy!  I don’t know whether it will bring you good luck and wealth for the coming year or not, but it sure tastes good.

Easy Black-eyed Peas

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry black-eyed peas
• 2 cups chopped cooked ham
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch garlic powder
• 2 onions, diced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole tomatoes

Directions

1. Place black-eyed peas in 8 quart pot. Add enough water to fill pot 3/4 full. Stir in ham and diced onions, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place tomatoes in a blender or food processor, and blend until the tomatoes are liquefied. Add tomatoes to pot. Bring all ingredients to boil. Cover the pot, and simmer on low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the peas are tender.

Whether you believe in what you eat on New Year’s Day can bring you luck and prosperity or not… these recipes are tasty.  Do you have a New Year Day recipe you’d like to share?  We would love for you to share it with us.

From here at Blog by Donna, we wish you health, happiness and prosperity for this coming New Year, 2009.

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