A New Year's Day Brunch

Happy New Year!  I hope 2014 brings blessings and good health to you and yours.

We celebrated with a Southern New Year's Day Brunch earlier today.  Take a look-see:

I set-up a buffet in the dining room this morning.  We served ourselves and ate in the breakfast room.

This year I decided on a silver and pastel color scheme.

I was inspired by Mary's Mini Chicken and Waffles Party Bites post.

I used the Southern Living recipe for Peach-Horseradish Maple Syrup.

I put the black-eyed peas in the crockpot late last night, and the strata is a make-ahead dish as well.  It was refrigerated last night before putting it in the oven this morning.

The Ham-Asparagus Cheese Strata recipe is from BH&G.

New Year's Day Brunch Menu:

Black-Eyed Peas with Ham

Collard Greens

Chicken and Biscuits with Peach-Horseradish Maple Syrup

Ham-Asparagus and Cheese Strata

Mini Krullers 

Cornbread

Iced Tea

Did you know...

...that the tradition of eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's Day started during the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War to Yankees)? Black-eyed peas guarantee a year of good luck and prosperity, and collard greens bring wealth.

How to cook black-eyed peas: 

Ingredients:
1 bag Camellia black-eyed peas
8 - 12 ounces ham seasoning meat
3 - 4 tablespoons Penzy's Sunny Paris seasoning mix
water

Method:
1.   Wash and sort dried peas thoroughly.  Place peas in a large bowl and cover with an inch or two of water above the bean line.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap until the next morning.
2.   Rinse beans in a colander a few minutes and transfer to a crockpot.  Add spices and ham and just enough water to barely cover the beans.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Resources:

All tableware is MacKenzie-Childs from both Taylor and Wallcourt ranges unless otherwise noted.
Napkins and mercury glass votives:  Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic
Serve ware: Pie servers and serving spoons: Gifts from Judy's New Orleans
Saying candle votive and ornament place card holders:  An Angel at My Table, UK
Ceramic bread basket and clear vases:  Pier 1
Pink tea towel:  Yves Delorme, Paris
Square white cake plate:  Williams-Sonoma
Square painted platter:  Painted by *me*
White linen table runner:  Pottery Barn
Christmas ornaments:  Anthropologie

Linking to:

Join Liz @ Fresh Cut Friday

Until next time…

New Year's Blessings!

Ricki Jill