Because today is the first day of the new year, we decided to compile a list of 12 firsts - one bit of trivia for each month of the year. If you hit it big on Jeopardy! because of our eclectic collection of factoids, let us know.
Better yet, send money. First U.S.
president to live in the White House: John Adams (1797). First team the Jaguars beat at home in the regular season: Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-16 (Oct. 8, 1995).
First patent granted in the United States: To Samuel Hopkins for a process for making potash, an ingredient in fertilizer (1790). First appearance by Elvis Presley on national television: Jan. 28, 1956, on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show on CBS.
Time to set some New Year's resolutions that you'll break by Valentine's Day. The folks at conducted an anonymous survey and found that 31 percent of respondents resolved to do something about their health, 15 percent of resolutions dealt with personal growth and interests, another 15 percent involved personal finance and 12 percent dealt with careers. New Year's in the South?
That means it's time to eat Hoppin' John, for good luck. Just as there are plenty of stories behind the name, there are plenty of recipes. Here's one from Matt and Ted Lee.
Excuse me, is your phone croaking? Wash the peas in a strainer, place them in a medium bowl, and soak for 4 hours in fresh water to cover. Heat the olive oil in a 4-quart pot over medium-high heat and brown the hog jowl on both sides, about 5 minutes.
(If using bacon, omit the olive oil and simply render the fat in the pot for 5 minutes.) Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, black pepper, red pepper and salt and bring it to a boil.
Let the broth boil vigorously for 10 minutes, then add the drained peas. Boil gently over medium-high heat, uncovered, until the peas are tender but still have some bite, about 25 minutes for black-eyed peas, 30 minutes for field peas. Add the tomatoes and the rice to the pot.
Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer vigorously for 20 minutes, until most of the broth has been absorbed but the rice and peas are still very moist. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the Hoppin' John to steam, covered, until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove the hog jowl and pull off any meat.
Fluff the Hoppin' John with a fork. Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle the shredded hog jowl over the top, and serve. Source: Adapted from The Lee Bros.
Southern Cookbook by Matt Lee and Ted Lee (Norton, $35).
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