wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

what a lot of stupid suggestions-americans are so dumb

My Slovak grandmother served sauerkraut, pork chops, dumplings on new year's day -- It was supposed to be good luck but I never learned (or have forgotten) why.

Growing up in Texas, we relied on the "good luck" food, aka black-eyed peas for years. It was torture and seemed to do nothing to stem a progression of "bad" years.

Finally my mom started a new tradition of serving lobster tails on New Years Day, with the idea that no matter how bad things may get, we would have at least one great meal during the year!

New Year is the biggest holiday for many Russians (and many former USSR republic) and it's another whole topic for the show: a lots of food, drinks and celebrations till morning...

New Year's in my German/Hungarian background includes herringsalat (beets, apples, creamed herring --recipes in the net) and suelze, probably called "head cheese" here. Suelze, made painstakingly by my mother, included veal, dill pickle slices, carrots, gelled into an aspic created by long-ccoking of veal bones. I haven't had it in years and would likely not eat it unless it was from my 96-year-old mother's recipe.

Mimi Brauch

My dad always ate oyster stew on New Year's Eve.

Chicken rice soup is what my grandmother used to serve in the Philippines (in spanish it's Arroz Caldo). We ate it just before midnight as a snack.

it's all about *electrolytes* for hangovers. food's impact is emotional if anything.

a hangover is 99 percent dehydration. problem is that the body can only hydrate itself at a certain rate, so even though you may deluge your sorry system with water in the morning, you need the *electrolytes* to make it hit you.

chug a small gatorade (pedialyte is even better) before bed, and wash down two excedrin with a larger one in the morning and you will love me later.
cheers lushes!

This New Year I'll be making a wheatgrass cocktail. I've found an excellent video recipe here: http://www.beYOU.tv/videos/Healing-Quest-Rainforest-Yoga-for-Kids-Wheat-Grass-Cocktail

You'll need a blender, wheatgrass and apples.

It should be great for my health!

Greg

While living in Hawai'i for many years, we adopted the "heavy pupu's" style of get-togethers - we didn't call them "cocktail parties" as the local dining scene was much more casual than that wording indicates!

The food mix of so many Asian cultures along with some native Hawaiian foods are always present at any gathering - sashimi (Japanese) is the highlight of any New Year's celebration and yellowfin tuna caught in Hawaiian waters is the favorite fish for sashimi - Ahi means "fire" and is the Hawaiian word for tuna; any long noodle Chinese dish is eaten as long noodles mean a long life; a Hawaiian food of fish or pork steamed in a ti leaf; Kalbi ribs (Korean) are another favorite;

Only thing missing is crispy bacon. I need that grease!

My favorite New Year's Day recipe:

Ingredients:
Lots of water
2 eggs
2 slices of hearty whole wheat bread

Directions:
First, drink lots of water. Wait a few hours.

Then fry eggs, leaving the middle runny.
Toast and butter bread.

Eat! Sop up egg yolks with bread.

Best cure for a hangover.