Lucky New Years’ Bacon Dishes

Another year has passed and another one around the corner. About now is the time for people like me to just now start making that resolutions list and decide what to eat. Yes, “what to eat?” It’s quite important. There are several superstitions through time and cultures about the type of food you should eat on New Year’s Eve and Day. The foods you eat will determine wealth, health and much more! I gathered information from many sources on different food fortunes and how to include bacon:

(Sources with more details on history: epicurious; Good Housekeeping; Blog Her)

Grapes: Consume 12 grapes at Midnight. Each grape represents one of the 12 upcoming months. Advice… Try not to get a bitter grape on your birthday month!


Cooked Greens: Cabbage, collards, kale, and chard. Associated with luck, fortune, wealth. Represent folded money. They symbolize economic fortune – “Eat more and get more.”


Legumes: Beans, peas, and lentils. Represents prosperity. “..resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind.” – (epicurious)


Pork: Represent progress and prosperity. “The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving.” – (epicurious)


Fish: Choice when red meat is avoided due to religious/cultural reasons. Can represent good luck, fertility, long life, good harvest, and progress. Scales can represent silver. “…people associate fish with moving forward into the new year since fish swim forward. Other people think fish symbolize abundance since they swim in schools.” – (Good Housekeeping)


Baked Goods: Specifically round or ring-shaped goods. Symbolic items baked inside.


Noodles: Represent long life.


Pomegranate: Associated with abundance and fertility.

DON’T EAT:
Lobster: “Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. – (epicurious)
Chicken: “…discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past.” – (epicurious)
Any Winged Fowl: “…because good luck could fly away.” – (epicurious)

OTHER TIDBITS:
* “In Germany, it’s customary to leave a little bit of each food on your plate past midnight to guarantee a stocked pantry in the New Year.” – (epicurious)
* “…Philippines, it’s important to have food on the table at midnight.” – (epicurious)

Now check out some lucky recipes (more than one fortune finder in each recipe) for the New Year that include your favorite ingredient – BACON:

Cabbage, Bacon and Pomegranate Salad, From: Food.com

Kale Pomegranate and Bacon Salad, From: Lauren Brennan

Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon and Pork, From: Food Network

Collards & Grapes with Bacon, From: Yummly

Tuna Noodle Casserole, From: Yummly

Pan-Fried Trout with Bacon, From: epicurious

Cajun Fish With Cabbage and Bacon Sauté, From: Real Simple

Roasted Grape Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, From: Yummly

Pecan and Bacon Bundt Cake, From: Elle.

King Cake with Bacon-Pecan Praline Filling, From: Food Orleans

– Elle.

‘Tis the Season for Excessive Drinking. Why Not Add Bacon?

I compiled a list of ways to enjoy bacon in your booze this holiday season! Have fun and enjoy your bacon booze responsibly!

READY MADE / DRINK RECIPES

READY MADE:

(Lots of cocktail recipes with their bourbon: Bacon Bourbon Cocktails)

PLEASE CHECK OUT “Beer Advocate” for their list of bacon beers with reviews and locations:

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DRINK RECIPES:

Bacon Vodka – Easily make your own! From Elle.

Bacon Beer – Easily make your own! From Brew Your Own.

BBQ Bloody Mary (use Bacon Vodka) – From Stephen.

Breakfast in a Cup – From Old Forester.

Bacon Apple Cider – From Jezra

Spiked & Spiced Bacon Eggnog – From Bacon Today

Bacon, Bourbon, and Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – From Serious Eats

Bacon Cherry Creek Bourbon Cocktail – From Lance Mayhew, on About.com

Bacon – Apple Martini – From Elle.

Bacon Bloody Mary – From Elle.

Bacon Jello Shots – From Elle.

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– Elle.

BACON FAIL: Decorating Your Christmas Tree with Real Bacon

Bacon Today posted a “how-to” on making “Holiday Chocolate Covered Bacon Strip Ornaments” for your Christmas Tree. They look delicious and the recipe is easy to follow. But, I’m just going to repeat myself from my post “What NOT to do with Bacon This Christmas” that I posted in 2011: “Please. Please don’t decorate your Christmas Tree with REAL bacon. …..if you have pets, little kids, or just concerned about inviting some bugs in your home, then maybe it’s not a good idea.” I want to further push the issue about your pets, if you have any. Chocolate and your furry pets don’t mix well. Yes, yes, it can vary depending on if it’s dark or milk chocolate and the amount and how big your pet it. But do you want to chance it? Do you really want to tease your pets? And bring about a horrific mess to clean up?

If you refuse to listen to the above: Just think about the simple fact that chocolate melts and you more than likely have warm Christmas lights on that tree and nicely wrapped presents sitting directly under it all.

I do encourage everyone to follow through with the recipe and enjoy some festive bacon treats this holiday season. But please don’t put it on your Christmas Tree. Simply enjoy them as treats and not ornaments. I respect Bacon Today for all they do, but I just don’t believe real bacon should be used in decorating or sculpting unless you plan on actually eating it. And if you put it on your Christmas Tree, I can’t imagine it being very sanitary or (pending the time frame) even edible. And the risk to your pets is not worth it.

If you are looking to stock up on some Bacon Ornaments, check out: “Ornaments for the Bacon Nerd in Your Life“.

– Elle.