An alcoholic friend of mine once told me that New Year's Eve is Amateur Night. That's when people who normally don't drink get drunk and drive around, endangering others. I never saw his logic but still think of it as Amateur Night. At any rate, there are a whole lot of drunks aiming their cars around so we simply stay home, out of their reach.
We'll have red beans and rice tomorrow. My parents always had cracked crab on New Year's Eve so that became our family tradition. They're gone as of many years, now but that still stands in our family.
Here's a recipe that is pretty good. You can soak and cook the beans the long way or use canned ones, like I do.
Red Beans & RiceSautee: 1 C Celery, chopped
1 C Onion, chopped
¼ lb Ham, diced
¼ tsp Prudhomme’s Meat Magic
1 or 2 Bay Leaf
Add: 3 Cans Kidney Beans (don't drain 'em)
Cook ½ hr or until reduced
Serve over Buttered Rice.
Have a great New Year's Eve and I'll see you all next year.
