Making Lucky Hoppin’ John

Posted by & filed under Daily Life, Food, Frugal Living, Health.

I have gotten into the New Year’s tradition of making Hoppin’ John on January 1st to start the new year out right. So today I made a big ole heaping pot of it. Hoppin’ John, made with black-eyed peas, is a traditionally Southern dish meant to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. It’s a bit of a process to make because it requires a lot of chopping, slicing, and dicing – but the result is sooooo delicious! Even my son, home from college and a somewhat picky eater, absolutely loved it. We both had it wolfed down in no time. I served it over quinoa instead of rice, which tasted really good. The quinoa’s somewhat nutty flavor lent itself nicely with the Hoppin’ John.

Hoppin' John - New Year'sI use Katie Lee’s Hoppin’ John family recipe. She’s a good Southern girl who knows her way around the kitchen, so this Northern girl took a few pointers from her. She doesn’t add bacon or ham, like some recipes call for. I find that it doesn’t need it – it lets the flavor of beans shine through.

Hoppin’ John

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 15-oz cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, minced
  • cooked rice (I used quinoa – Marilyn)
  • Shredded white cheddar
  • Hot sauce (optional)
  1. 1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
  2. 2. Stir in black-eyed peas, broth, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low; cook 10 more minutes. Stir in green onions and parsley.
  3. 3. Serve on top of cooked rice and garnish with cheese. Add hot sauce, if desired.

I made sure we had enough leftovers for tomorrow, the day after New Year’s Day. It is then called Skippin’ Jenny and is eaten on January 2nd. Tradition holds that this demonstrates one’s frugality, which brings hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year.

Happy 2014! ~Marilyn

Pick Your Lucky New Year’s Underwear Color!

Posted by & filed under Daily Life, Vintage.

Vintage New Year'sI’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, in fact I go out of my way not to make them. I follow a generally healthy lifestyle all throughout the year, so there is never a need to make any drastic changes just because the calendar changes to January 1st. But I do like to observe a few New Year’s traditions just because they are fun. And who am I to say no to any possible resultant love, money, success or prosperity? 🙂

Every New Year’s Eve I make Hoppin’ John (a black-eyed peas dish). Even though I’m about as far north as you can get, I have enjoyed making this southern dish the past few years. Many Southerners believe that black-eyed peas symbolize coins and eating them would will insure prosperity in the new year. So heck yes! I willingly make Hoppin’ John because not only is it delicious, who could turn possibly turn down the hope of economic success?

Vintage lingerieBut the funnest New Year’s superstition is that the color of your underwear will determine what kind of year you’ll have. So pick your New Year’s underwear wisely! Here’s a rundown of what the different underwear colors mean:

  • RED underwear will bring a year of romance and passion.
  • BLUE underwear will bring good health.
  • YELLOW underwear will bring prosperity and success.
  • WHITE underwear will lead to peace and harmony.
  • GREEN underwear will lead to health and well-being.
  • PINK underwear will lead to luck in love.
  • POLKA DOT underwear symbolizes coins/money.

So while I will be eating my Hoppin’ John and drinking champagne, I will be donning a certain color of underwear. I think I will chose yellow this year. Prosperity and success? Bring it!

Wishing you all the best in 2014! ~Marilyn

 

 

After Christmas, The Laundry

Posted by & filed under Daily Life, Frugal Living, Vintage.

“After enlightenment, the laundry”, is one of my favorite Zen proverbs. I take it to mean that no matter how spiritually enlightened you are, you still must deal with everyday things in life. Like laundry. There is always laundry. So on this Boxing Day/Kwanzaa/Day after Christmas, I did laundry. And I delighted in it.

Indoor Laundry Drying RackAfter two days and nights of Yuletide festivities, socializing, and gaieties, it actually felt good to delve into the pile. And since I air-dry my laundry, there is a certain zen orderliness to hanging every thing up to dry. In the wintertime, I use an indoor drying rack in the kitchen. That way it can not only get the house heat, but also heat from the oven and stove. I feel that there is just something charming and cozy about a rack of laundry in the house.  🙂

~Marilyn

 

Vintage 30s Old Dutch Cleanser Christmas

Posted by & filed under Frugal Living, Vintage.

Old Dutch Cleanser Christmas ad 1936I ran across this 1936 ad for Old Dutch Cleanser, which is cool because it’s a timely Christmas ad. I really like the cute decorated tree. But on closer inspection I noticed that the tree is decorated with the Old Dutch Cleanser girl ornaments! Then I saw that you could order these ornaments, which were actually Old Dutch Rubber Cleaning Sponges. You merely had to fill out the coupon, chose your color of either Blue and white or Green and white, and enclose 10 cents and a windmill panel from an Old Dutch label. I reckon that if you were lucky enough to find these sponges today, they would be a rare collector’s item.

The streamers on the tree are great too, they sing the praises of Old Dutch Cleanser:  Doesn’t Scratch ~ Cleans More Things ~ Costs Less to Use ~ Made With Seismotite ~ Saves Time and Work ~ Polishes as it Cleans ~ Kind to Your Hands.

Old Dutch Cleanser is still available today. Even the label is the same, which is pretty great because it’s a fantastic image. It’s nice to see some things stand the test of time.

~Marilyn

 

Fab Vintage 1973 Holiday Fashions

Posted by & filed under Fashion, Vintage.

In homage to my 40th high school reunion this year, I am taking another look back at the fashions of 1973. This time it is the festive Christmas version from the December 1973 issue of Seventeen magazine. By December 1973, I was a freshman in college and working part-time. Being the trend-conscious 18 year old that I was, you can be sure that I wore versions of all of these styles. And they are all really cool styles, I must admit. So here we go with the Holiday version of the Class of ’73!

Vintage 1973 Holiday pantsuitThe Pantsuit: Holiday shopping was done in style wearing “pantsets” (that’s what Seventeen called them) and separates. Plaid was big, and so were the pants. Wide-legged and cuffed, always with a matching jacket. I wore quite a few pantsets – mostly Betsey Johnson – Alley Cat designs sewn by my mom. It was a snappy look!

Vintage 1973 Holiday Maxi SkirtsThe Maxi Skirt and Puff-Sleeved Sweater: Singing around the Christmas tree in your patchwork/denim maxi skirt and puff-sleeved sweater top! Yes, I rocked this look too. I remember I had a long blue maxi skirt similar to the one in the picture. I wore it a lot, but I always found it vaguely annoying to maneuver in a long skirt. After years of wearing mini skirts, all that fabric just got in the way. It’s a classy look though, in a casual way.

Vintage 1973 slinky Holiday dressThe Rhinestone-Studded Slinky Long Dress: Sleek knits were big in the ’70s, and these floor-length dresses were studded with rhinestone designs. I don’t remember wearing these type dresses at Christmastime in Seattle; I am certain I would have froze to death! But it is a great look. Extra points for the dapper young man in the velvet blazer, bow tie, and plaid pants. Way cool.

Vintage 1973 Country Christmas fashionCountryish Tops and Ankle-Sweep Skirts (and braids): The country/folk/peasant look was making its way to the fashion scene. Long corduroy skirts, floral cotton dresses started appearing. And the hair BRAID – how cool is that? So 2013! I love the blouse on the left – definitely something that I would have worn, and would wear today.

Vintage 1973 Holiday LoungewearCozy Loungers: Lounge wear was hip in 1973. And no, not something that you would wear out to a lounge. Not really nightgowns, but rather long maxi dresses that you would wear at home. They were really quite pretty and stylish…a look much better than leggings or sweatpants I dare say. Hey, we were stylin’ in 1973!

To a Vintage Holiday Season! ~ Marilyn