Start your new year with good luck and prosperity with these traditional southern recipes. This delicious menu is a collection of classic southern staples made healthy, whole, and vegan.
New Year’s Day is my favorite holiday next to Christmas! My family and I like to call it a “restful” holiday. For us, it’s a time to slow down and just be with one another. The day is usually spent playing board games, watching football, and most importantly, eating.
Like most people, our traditional New Year’s Day feast is the classic southern favorites of black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. But, we also enjoy a big pan of rich chocolatey vegan fudge. Because…fudge.
Tradition says this meal is symbolic of good luck and prosperity. But, for me, it symbolizes much more. If I may…
- Simplicity: All of these recipes are incredibly easy and minimal in ingredients, but full of nutrition and satisfaction. And, in an increasingly complicated world filled with uncertainty, we need to be reminded it’s the simple things that are important and usually bring the greatest joy and benefit to our lives.
- Provision: This meal is such a great reminder of blessings and being given more than I deserve. The ingredients are cheap, unassuming, and not the prettiest. But, they stock the pantry, fill the belly, feed the body, and make it strong. Just one more example that the most beneficial things in our lives are often unassuming and humble.
- Family: My wife and I have five children that range in ages from 19 down to 8. There’s one in college, one preparing to leave next year, and the others are drawing straws over who will get the newly vacant bedrooms. It’s a new season for us that’s exciting, fun, and sad all at the same time. So, when we can all be together and fill our bowl with this simple meal, it’s one more example of what’s really important. Enjoying this simple meal with all of our children not only nourishes our bodies, but it also fills our hearts and energizes our souls.
Who knew black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread could hold so much meaning? It’s possible I’m a little more emotional than usual because 2020 has just sucked and I’m ready to move on. But, it’s also been of year of great change, reflection, and new beginnings.
I hope you enjoy these recipes and they fuel, not only your body but your passions as well. Here’s to 2021! May it be a year of good fortune and happiness for you. And, new recipes from Shane & Simple:)
Vegan New Year's Day Menu
These Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas are so easy, vegan, and a classic Southern favorite. With just 3 simple ingredients and no soaking required, make PERFECT black-eyed peas in your pressure cooker every time!
These vegan Instant Pot Collard Greens are tender, so flavorful, and easy to make. A classic Southern staple ready to eat in just a few minutes instead of hours.
This is seriously the BEST Vegan Cornbread recipe and so easy to make. It’s perfectly sweet, moist, tender, and comforting. The perfect side for chili, soups, and stews.
Easy Vegan Fudge made with just 5 ingredients! This simple dairy-free fudge recipe is rich, naturally sweetened, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! A much healthier option compared to other traditional versions, it’s gluten-free and oil-free.
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I’ve loved so many of your recipes especially the carrot cake, three ingredient peanut butter cookies and the dry vegetable broth. My question is……can you please indicate dry ingredients in grams also? Even other ingredients like bananas. I find it a much more accurate and foolproof way of cooking. It would be so helpful. As you well know, size varies. I have a great kitchen scale that removes the tare weight of any container before the ingredient is added. I’ll bet you have one too! I used to teach at a vegan cooking school and all our recipes were in metric and traditional.
All the best for a promising healthy 2022!
Judy
Lovely post Shane! You’ve hit the important stuff for many I would guess!
2020 has been icky to say the least! May 2021 bring an end to the virus and bring back some ‘normalcy”
Thank you for all of your recipes and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate you!
Thank you, Ann! Blessing and Happy New Year!