Hog Jowls
Bringing You Good Luck and Prosperity
Hog jowl is the meat from the cheek of the pig and is used frequently in southern cooking and
soul food. It has also become a tradition, especially in the south, to be eaten on New Year's
Day.
Hog jowls, or pork, has for years been considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity, and it
is included in the New Year's Day menu for that reason. It is also believed that the New Year
is a time to look forward and since a hog can not look back, it's meat has become a staple for
the first day of the new year.
Many cultures consider black eyed peas to be the lucky food, so they are usually served with
the hog jowl. Some families insist the each person must eat 365 peas, one for each day of the
year, thus guaranteeing plenty coins in the coming year. Another dish that is traditionally
served with hog jowl is greens or cabbage, because they symbolize green paper money and eating
them insures that you will have plenty of folding money. In other regions, rice is a lucky food
that is eaten on New Year's Day. The rice is usually mix with the black eyed peas and is called
Hoppin' John. Cornbread is yet another lucky food for the New Year and goes well with the greens
and black eyed peas.
So, when you are planning your New Year's Day menu, why not cover all the bases and include hog
jowl, black eyed peas, rice, greens and cornbread, you are sure to have plenty of good luck that
way.
Search Amazon for MORE about Hog Jowls:
- © 2005 Info4Net -