[Deguello]

Part of the Sherman's March to the Sea plan was to burn all of the South's war machine, from factories, farms, livestock and any thing else that fed the Confederate's cause.

Many ladies of the South pleaded with Sherman to spare food crops so that the children would not starve. The story is that Sherman's army left the fields of black eyed peas as the last standing crop. The black eyed peas carried the citizens through the next years of hunger.

This is the story of why it is for good luck to serve and eat black eyed peas on New Year's day...to be able to make through the next year. This is what had been passed down in my family. Corn bread is part of the good luck, but it may just be that these two foods just go together.

[agrandis]

My family has Southern roots, but we grew up in New Mexico. Believe it or not, my Mom made pasole AND black-eyed peas for New Year's Day. Two great traditions merged!