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Jan 3Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

Hoppin Johns!!!! I can almost taste them! Thanks for sharing, Betsy, and I will make some myself again SOON! Missed this year; we have been munching nonstop on my cousin Pam's tamales sent from Delia's in Texas. I am hopeful THAT will be a new New Years Tradition as well. Miss you guys~

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Jan 3Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

Wow a perfect culinary history lesson to an eager chef waiting to try something new.. Thank you..

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Jan 3Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

This is so fun! Ed and I were snowbirds for many, many years and we stayed at the same place south of Myrtle Beach for several of those years. It was a condo with many units, but the old woman we rented from managed only about 20 of them. She was a character, true to the low country in manners and speech and traditions, but outside it in flamboyance. She glittered, she glowed, she wore purple and chartreuse and always wore a matching hat of some kind over her carrot-colored hair. Her father, she claimed, had been best friends with Strom Thurmond, though she said she didn't always agree with him--but a framed, autographed picture of Strom greeted us northerners as we entered her door. Her apartment was filled to the brim with odd treasures, including a pinball machine. She had a black maid/caretaker who lived with her and seemed to really care about her, but she refused to clean around that mess so Lila had to hire a housekeeper, who came in once a week to tidy up.

Every year we were scheduled to arrive on New Year's Day and every year she put out a spread for us snowbirds. With Mimosas, yes. It was the first I'd ever heard of Hoppin' John, but once we tasted it, we made sure we'd arrive early enough each New Year's Day to get some before it was gone.

This really brings back those memories! ❤️

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Jan 3Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

It is such a soothing delight to listen to you reading your beautiful words. Thank you.

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Jan 4Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

I haven't heard of black-eyed peas much except in American literature. They don't feature in our food at all, not even fusion food, so I'm wondering if they go under another name here in Australia.

Do they taste like cannelini beans or lima beans? They look similar.

I love the journey with the peas in your family. And the way they made a beautiful thick soup for you and your husband. I keep limas beans in tins for much the same purpose. It's a comfort thing loaded with all that is good for you (according to Blue Zone https://www.bluezones.com).

I loved the way you did that traditional walk with your friends and the way it ended up. Walking and food, it doesn't get better.

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Jan 4Liked by Elizabeth Beggins

Yes to Hoppin' John on New Year's and for me always served with corn bread drenched in butter and honey!

Your recounting of the many names of beans made me chuckle and reminded me of the nicknames of the older water men of The Eastern Shore!

Here's to more walks, more food, and a loving and supportive tribe!

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That's awesome! There's such a diversity of legumes available. I aspire to use them more often but having not grown up with them I'm usually uncertain how best to use them. Thank you for sharing!

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