Black Eyed Peas and New Year's Wishes

Is it possible for 2012 to be as freakishly awesome as 2011 was?  I'm sitting here watching my almost-one-year-old fling blueberries and strawberries all over the kitchen at 7:00 AM on my day off, and I can't help but reflect on what a joy the past year has been.  2011 brought us the best gift of all, our daughter; a long-term goal, we bought our first house; and positive moves at both our jobs.

2012, the challenge has been extended...do you accept?  Can you possible be better than the best year ever? We will see.  To help you along, we in the Bankey household have taken the extra precaution of ingesting black eyed peas.  All in the name of 'good luck' for you.  Yes, we spiced them up.  Yes, they were good.  Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed them. Now it's your turn to make it a great year.  2012, you're on!

Here is Corgan eating her New Year's black eyed pea.  She loves black beans and red beans, but for some reason isn't a huge fan of the one that can look back at you.  She ended up eating half of it, and since she's so tiny, this should cover her in the good luck arena for the year.  Here's to hoping.

After Corgan went to sleep (at 6:25 PM!), Stuart and I started cooking our New Year's Day meal.  We made rib eyes, sauteed spinach with garlic and lemon, and serrano spiced black eyed peas. Nummers!  What Stuart will never tell you is that he can cook.  He tricked me for the first few years we were dating into thinking that he couldn't cook anything worth eating.  His first meal in his first apartment was microwaved, buttered hominy from a can.  It was all a ruse! He can cook people!

What doesn't say 'Happy New Year' like giant honkin' slabs of red meat?

Everything sizzlin' away on the stove.  Yes, we know we should've done the steaks on the grill, but we were too lazy to buy propane.  You can get mad at me later.

End result: a scrumptious meal with a great bottle of wine, and yes that is homemade tarragon compound butter topping the steak.  It was a great way to bring in the New Year, and to celebrate the great year that we just completed.