There is one day a year that the lowly legume known as "black eyed peas" gets to be put on a pedestal. That day is New Year's Day. At least, if you live in the southern part of the USA, a dish of black eyed peas is considered a mandatory menu item for any New Year's Day feast.
According to legend, the tradition of having black eyed peas (usually cooked in hog fat) on New Year's Day goes back to the Civil War. The local farms in the south were raided by the Yankees, who stole all the food, slaughtered the farmers' hogs, and took the meat. Therefore, the poor Southern folks were left with only the dried blackeyed peas and hog bones. Yet, they survived the winter on these. Hence, it was thought if you include this dish on the first day of the new year, you will be able to survive the hardships that may occur in the future.
Another common practice in all parts of the USA---not just the South---is making New Year's Resolutions. If YOUR New Year's Resolutions include to live a healthier lifestyle----have I got a deal for you!!! Get together with a group of like-minded individuals to support one another in keeping those resolutions, through a program called First Place 4 Health (
http://www.firstplace4health.com/ ). Our first meeting will be Wednesday evening, at 5:30, in the CLC at the corner of Spring Street and Club Blvd. in Mountain Home. The meeting will end at 6:45 PM. The class will meet each Wednesday for the next 13 consecutive weeks, from 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM. The name of the First Place 4 Health book that we will be using is called
God's Best for Your Life and is available from major book sellers for under $20. Participants will need to have already ordered their book and have it with them when the first class meets on January 11. I have the photo of the Best Choice logo, because I can 100 % guarantee that the time you spend participating in the First Place 4 Health program will not be" wasted", and will, more than likely, help your "waist"! If you have questions about the local classes, you may email me at
triciaturnerfirstplace@yahoo.com So get with the program---the BEST CHOICE for a healthier lifestyle!! Miles of smiles! Tricia
There is one day a year that the lowly legume known as "black eyed peas" gets to be put on a pedestal. That day is New Year's Day. At least, if you live in the southern part of the USA, a dish of black eyed peas is considered a mandatory menu item for any New Year's Day feast. 
According to legend, the tradition of having black eyed peas (usually cooked in hog fat) on New Year's Day goes back to the Civil War. The local farms in the south were raided by the Yankees, who stole all the food, slaughtered the farmers' hogs, and took the meat. Therefore, the poor Southern folks were left with only the dried blackeyed peas and hog bones. Yet, they survived the winter on these. Hence, it was thought if you include this dish on the first day of the new year, you will be able to survive the hardships that may occur in the future. 
Another common practice in all parts of the USA---not just the South---is making New Year's Resolutions. If YOUR New Year's Resolutions include to live a healthier lifestyle----have I got a deal for you!!! Get together with a group of like-minded individuals to support one another in keeping those resolutions, through a program called First Place 4 Health ( http://www.firstplace4health.com/ ). Our first meeting will be Wednesday evening, at 5:30, in the CLC at the corner of Spring Street and Club Blvd. in Mountain Home. The meeting will end at 6:45 PM. The class will meet each Wednesday for the next 13 consecutive weeks, from 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM. The name of the First Place 4 Health book that we will be using is called God's Best for Your Life and is available from major book sellers for under $20. Participants will need to have already ordered their book and have it with them when the first class meets on January 11. I have the photo of the Best Choice logo, because I can 100 % guarantee that the time you spend participating in the First Place 4 Health program will not be" wasted", and will, more than likely, help your "waist"! If you have questions about the local classes, you may email me at triciaturnerfirstplace@yahoo.com So get with the program---the BEST CHOICE for a healthier lifestyle!! Miles of smiles! Tricia
