The Home Front
When I think of January what comes to my mind is the traditional meal I serve my family on New Year’s Day, and how I’m always hopeful that we might get snow this year. So, let’s talk black-eyed peas and snow cream. On New Year’s Day, I serve up black-eyed peas with hog jowl for good luck and a big pot of turnip greens for a prosperous year with our money. Of course, I serve that with lots of cornbread and sweet tea as I welcome my family around my table to celebrate and look forward to the new year.
I always say that the combination of us Southerners and snow is a delicious phenomenon. You see, it doesn’t snow much in the south. We don’t get to enjoy it as often as our Northern cousins do, but we do look forward to the possibility of snow. We all run out to buy our milk and bread to prepare if the weatherman even mentions the “s” word. We get out of school and get to enjoy the peace and quiet of no traffic on the roads and the beauty of our southern terrain covered in beautiful white fluff. It usually melts away by the afternoon, so we feel like it is a gift from God that allows us time off to enjoy His creation in a calming way. Nope, it doesn’t snow much in the south, but let me tell you, when we do get a few inches of snow, we make ice cream out of it!
Yep, I’m not kidding, we make “snow cream” as we call it. For generations in my family, we have turned snow into a dessert. It’s just what you do on a snowy morning after you get tired of throwing snowballs at each other. My great-grandmothers, my grandmothers, my mother, me, and my daughter have all carried on this Southern tradition, and if you have never had snow cream, give it a try! It’s an Alabama tradition in our family. Some of my earliest memories are playing in the snow with my twin sister, my older sister, and my little brother. Mom would bundle us up, and off into the snowy world we would go. Running, slipping, rolling, throwing snowballs, and making snowmen were part of our snowy mornings. And when our noses got too cold, we would go to warm up and eat some of Momma’s snow cream. You see, while we were playing in the snow, our momma sent Daddy on the errand of gathering clean, fresh snow with no animal tracks or debris in it. The optimal place to gather clean snow was the top of the automobiles and the top of the slide of our swing set. Mom sent Dad on the mission with a big bowl and a big spoon. When I had a family of my own, I sent my husband on the snow gathering mission as I bundled up the children for a fun romp in the snow. And, in case you decide to try it, let me give you a few important hints. Don’t scoop to the bottom level of snow on the automobile, leave a half inch of snow behind so as not to collect any dirt. And, heaven forbid, never, ever collect yellow snow! Just trust me on that one.
-Danna Standridge
Author of Happiness is Homemade Y’all!
Join her in the kitchen on Facebook and YouTube.
Danna’s Snow Cream
Ingredients:
1 large bowl of fresh snow (2-3 gallons)
2 cups sugar
2 cups milk (heavy cream or evaporated milk may be substituted)
2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions:
Dissolve sugar in milk. Add vanilla. Taste it. Add more sugar, milk, and vanilla as needed to the mixture to get a strong vanilla ice cream taste. Stir in fresh snow with a large spoon. Add snow a little at a time for best results. When it looks like homemade ice cream, it’s ready. Serve immediately.
Happy New Year Black-Eyed Peas
Ingredients:
1 ham hock
3 cups water
3 cups chicken broth
1 lb. black eyed peas, dry
10 oz diced tomatoes with chilis
Salt (to taste)
Ingredients:
Rinse the peas and look them over for debris. Cover them with water and soak overnight or 8 hours. Drain off water. Place all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cover. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until peas are tender and the texture is to your liking. Salt to your taste. Serve with turnip greens and cornbread. *These can be cooked in a crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.
