"lucky" Holiday Traditions????

[MOM2TWO]

BEFORE WRITING ME OFF TO THE NUT-HOUSE...PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SUCCESS IS GOOD OLD FASHIONED HARD WORK. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE CERTAIN TRADITIONS THAT I HOLD TRUTH TO, DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR. I WILL SHARE MINE, AND HOPE OTHERS WILL PARTICIPATE!!

I COME FROM A VERY "GERMAN" BACKGROUND. MY FAMILY IS VERY CLOSE, AND SHARES AND BELIEVES IN THE SAME TRADITIONS YEARLY. ONE OF WHICH, IS PUTTING POCKET CHANGE ON YOUR WINDOW SILL NEW YEARS EVE, MUST BE BEFORE MIDNIGHT. MY GRANDMOTHER (NANA) WAS ADIMENT THAT EVERYONE IN HER FAMILY DO THIS. FOR SHE AND MY POP-POP ALWAYS DID THIS AND HER PAST IMMEDIATE FAMILY AS WELL. SHE ALWAYS SAID THAT THIS WILL INSURE A WINDFALL OF SORTS. MY POP-POP WAS A VERY HARD WORKING MAN, AND THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED THEIR "WINDFALLS" BUT EVERY YEAR THEY RECEIVED SOME SORT OF UNPLANNED GIFT OF MONEY. AS A YOUNG GIRL, I CERTAINLY LOVED THESE "WINDFALLS" BECAUSE THEY WERE USUALLY DIVIDED UP AMONG THE GRANDCHILDREN. YEARS PASSED AND WE WERE ALL FORTUNATE IN THE FINANCIAL DEPT. MY FIRST TWO YEARS OF MARRIAGE WE WERE VERY BLESSED; BOTH OF US WORKING IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY PAID A DECENT AMOUNT. THEN OF COURSE, 9/11...IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MY DH GOT KIDNEY STONES. SOUNDS DO-ABLE TO MOST, BUT AIRLINE PILOTS HAVE TO PROVE THEMSELVES "STONE" FREE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AT THIS POINT, I HAD JUST HAD MY FIRST BABY, WAS CURRENTLY A STAY AT HOME MOM; AND WE WERE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED. WE HAD ALSO, JUST PURCHASED OUR FIRST HOME. I FORGOT ABOUT MY FAMILY AND THEIR "SILLY" TRADITION IN PRIOR YEARS, BUT THIS PATICULAR YEAR I REMEMBERED..(was pulling all sorts of strings...lol) SO, PUT SOME POCKET CHANGE...(which at this point was actually spending money) ON THE WINDOW SILL OF OUR NEW HOUSE ON NEW YEARS EVE. MY HUSBAND JOSHED, AND MADE JOKES ON HOW I SHOULD TELL EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DO THE SAME, AND THERE WE HAVE OUR "WINDFALL" . AT THE SAME TIME, OUR MARRIAGE WAS IN TROUBLE, AS FINANCES CAUSES A LOT OF DISCORD AND STRESS. WITHIN A MONTH WE RECEIVED A CHECK FROM THE AIRLINES FOR A TRIP THAT DH WORKED OVER TWO YEARS PRIOR?? (those whom work within...know that is anything but typical) SHORTLY THERE AFTER, WE RECEIVED AN $8000 CHECK FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. WE APPARENLY PAID TOO MUCH FOR THE BIRTH OF MY SON. THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A TON OF MONEY, BUT AT THE TIME IT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. MY NANA PASSED THIS YEAR, (happened to be the source of the most unconditional love that I have ever felt) I THOUGHT ABOUT HER TRADITIONS, AND HER FIRMLY BELIEVING IN THEM. THREE DAYS AFTER HER DEATH, I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. NOT FROM HER OR POP-POP'S ESTATE AS HE IS STILL ALIVE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH SET ASIDE. BUT FROM SOMEWHERE THAT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE!

SO THAT'S MY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS NEW THREAD. TAKE IT FOR WHAT YOU WILL, BUT I WILL BE HONORING MY FAMILY TRADITIONS FOR LUCK, AND WELL-BEING, AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU AND YOUR TRADITIONS.

MELISSA

P.S. I ALSO, EAT PORK AND SAUERKRAUT EVERY NEW YEARS DAY. AND NOW THAT I MARRIED A SOUTHERN BOY...BLACK -EYED PEAS. AND I HATE PEAS!!!!! PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES....THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!!

[YogiBrood]

Interesting tradition there by your roots Mom....

We have peas turned into soup...thick soup with slices of smoked sausages added letting loose a flavour that is typically Dutch and delicious during the Winter months!!!

You are fortunate by that belief and keep believing in such a virtue... for traditions are fast running out on most 2nd to 3rd Generation emigrants and they still prove their values as you have kindly disclosed and shared with us...

Its wonderful to have you among us in ROLClub...

YB.

[MOM2TWO]

Interesting tradition there by your roots Mom....

We have peas turned into soup...thick soup with slices of smoked sausages added letting loose a flavour that is typically Dutch and delicious during the Winter months!!!

You are fortunate by that belief and keep believing in such a virtue... for traditions are fast running out on most 2nd to 3rd Generation emigrants and they still prove their values as you have kindly disclosed and shared with us...

Its wonderful to have you among us in ROLClub...

YB.

Thanks Yogi,
Would love your recipe....I love diversity and would have fun teaching my young family about the beliefs of others. Please share!!
Melissa

[YogiBrood]

Hmmm, u're pushing my liver to share something traditionally irresistable....

Here's a good try and with smoked sausages where you have various sorts in Texas too... tastes just as smashing for a hungry but deserving family like you have...

Pea soup with Smoked Sausage

Preparation time: 25 mins
Persons: 4
Origin: North Holland - Groningen (imho...)
Category: Soup - with smoked sausage

Ingredients:
1 ham disk,
3 spareribs,
1 smoke sausage,
1 laurel leaf,
1/2 tablespoon pepperseeds,
1/2 tablespoon salt,
2 soup cubes,
1 small turnip celery,
2 large potatoes,
1 leek,
1 can or freshly soaked capsule peas (large size),
1/2 bunch celery.


Preparation:

Pour into a wide soup pan with 1½ litres water with the slice of ham, the spareribs, the laurel leaf, the pepper grains, salts and soup cubes to cook. Cook softly or simmer it for approx. 1.5 hours.
Meanwhile, you can peel and slice the turnip celery and the potatoes in cubes. Cut the leek in rings.
Add turnip celery, potatoes, leek and capsule peas after 1.5 hour. Cook all of it for anther 15 minutes approx.
Remove the laurel leaf and the pepper seeds with a foam chip from the soup.
Retrieve ham disk, the spareribs and the smoke sausage from the soup.
Let it cool down.
Mash the soup with handheld mixer or through a rudder screen.
Remove the rib bones and cut the meat in small bits.
Cut the sausage in thick slices.
Add the meat to the soup and adjust the amount of salt and pepper until it is tasty.
Garnish the soup with the sliced celery.

Option- Mix 150 g finely sliced asparagus into the soup.


YB. - I hope you succeed and you all enjoy a simple traditional Dutch soup.

[Alphamystic]

Mom2two,

It seems to me that it took some guts to put your heart on your sleeve and share some intimate details about your life (Good & bad). Thank you for bringing us in and letting us become a little part of your life. I truley hope that 2007 becomes one hell of a "Windfall" year for you and the rest of the RolClub family.

[frees40k]

Well ours is having a lamb for dinner each New Years. It brings in the new year with fresh hope and health and wealth. As well as, most of our gifts are done from the heart. We all try to make something to give and if you want you can also buy something for the person. We all make different candies and all other goodies. Its our let it all hang out time. You can start the thin thing after the holidays. Oh, yes...and on friday before Christmas we have 7 kinds of fish and stay up most of the night. We play cards and talk, you would think now a days we could up the anty. Still only pennies are allowed. Hmmmmm !! Merry Christmas to all.

Freespirit