Happy New Year

Happy New Year 

to all my blog friends

and families!

I've been reflecting on 

New Year's past,

on the traditions and superstitions.

Did you, as a child, have 

any of these?

My mom used to tell me

not to clean the house on New Year's Eve,

to leave some dust and dirt

to carry over into the New Year.

I assumed to leave the dirt

in the vacuum would be O.K. - right?

Another thing I remember as a child

was waking up on New Year's Day

to a small gift from the "New Year's Baby"

I don't know where this tradition

came from but it was fun at the time.

I've read about some other traditions

and superstitions such as:

Eating good luck foods:

12 grapes - 1 for each month

Black Eyed Peas and Greens - bringing good luck

and prosperity

Leaving bits of food on your plates to carry

over into the New Year to ensure never going hungry.

Pork is a good luck food while

lobster is not (because lobsters walk

backwards apparently).

Lentils which represent coins ensuring prosperity

in the New Year.

This inspired me to make
a Kale and Lentil Salad
for lunch today...
If nothing else, it sure will
be good for my health.

Other:

Kissing at midnight to ensure affection

over the next 12 months.

Not to cry on New Year's Day - this could

bring unhappiness in the new year.

Pay all your debts before New Year's Eve

to have a "clean slate" in the new year.
(I also like the idea of forgiving all debts?)

Open the doors at midnight to let the bad

from the previous year out.
It's super cold over here right now so
don't leave the door open too long!

Make loud noises to scare away any evil spirits.

Don't do the dishes in case you

would break something which is bad luck.

(I think I'll leave the dirty dishes in the sink - no problem with that one! Leave some dirt in the house - this is the easiest one! Make lots of noise at midnight, and kiss the farmer even though he has a bad cold tonight).

What are some of your New Year's 

traditions and superstitions?

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

I want to thank each and everyone of

you for your support over

this past year. 

I love reading your blogs and your

comments and it's been such an

inspiration to me on SO many levels!

Much happiness and health

to you and yours in 2014.....
The Lord is good!

Kale and Lentil Salad Recipe:

1 bunch Kale, stemmed and sliced

1 shallot - chopped or thinly sliced

3 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 Tbsp. honey

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/4 Cup EV Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 Cups cooked lentils

1/2 Cup crumbled Feta cheese

1/2 Cup dried cranberries

Whisk together the vinegar, honey and mustard.

Gently whisk in the Olive Oil and

season with salt and pepper.

Pour over the kale and shallot - tossing

and stirring roughly to gently bruise the kale.

Toss in the lentils, feta cheese and cranberries.

Cover and marinate for 1 hour before serving.