Handsome Son brought in the new year this afternoon, first-footing the house and bringing shortbread and ginger ale.
First footing is the tradition that if a dark haired man bringing food, fuel, alcohol and money is the first person across the threshold after midnight on New Year's Day, the family will have good luck all year. Food, a warm house, partying, and the ability to pay the bills.
It used to be a lump of coal was included, but I don't know who has that now. We were happy with what we had.
Added to Mary's cake and chocolate cherries, and a large pot of tea, it was a merry afternoon.
Yesterday I tried making that chickpea mayo I've mentioned. It's not mayo in texture more like thick cream.
I did various things to mayo it up, including extra chickpeas and an egg. Never achieved mayo texture, but it does taste good.
So I'm testing it here on whole-wheat with chopped parsley, ready to insert slices of this hard boiled egg, to make a supper sandwich.
Lovely New Year's Day, complete, a few minutes ago, with a flying visit from Gary to wish me HNY.
Online meeting with friends this evening.
Happy day everyone, try something new just because.
I shall make that my new year mantra - try something new just because.
ReplyDeleteThat sandwich looks delicious but I'm not sure about chickpea mayo.
Happy New Year, Liz.
I think the egg improved it a lot. Rendering it nonvegan, but you can't have everything!
DeleteGlad you're all set for a good 2025 now, Boud!
ReplyDeleteYep, all bases touched.
DeleteI don't think I've heard of first footing so thank you for that. Don't think I've seen mayo made from chick peas either, but I suspect it would be difficult for it to replace my beloved Miracle Whip.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't really mayo. I make mayo like the trad type and it's quite different.
DeleteI did and it isn't mayo. My reaction to mayo is like yours to peanuts. Glad you had a nice visit from HS.
DeleteI think we need new names for these dressings. Bean and chickpea and other vegan options are nice but aren't mayo. It's like "plant based sausage", which I like but it isn't sausage.
DeleteA large pot of tea and cake won't fix the world, but make it more bearable. A lump of coal was quite topical here a few years ago, such are conservative politicians, https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2017/feb/09/scott-morrison-brings-a-chunk-of-coal-into-parliament-video
ReplyDeleteAfternoon tea is a great antidote to a lot of strife!
DeleteWe've never first-footed. It's more of a northern tradition, I think, and we soft southerners are far too reserved, as you know!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, you never had any luck for the year?? Sad!
DeleteThe chickpea mayo substitute sounds excellent. Delicious and healthy. I had never heard of first footing. Interesting. No one crossed our threshold yesterday except us. We used to be dark-haired.
ReplyDeleteYou might need to arrange for a dark haired man. Maybe the plumber will show up.
DeleteAn insurance inspector/repair guy, tall and dark-haired, was here a bit ago. Nice guy. Didn’t bring any gifts. Just his tools.
DeleteYour first-footing does not have to be done on the stroke of midnight. Sue was brought up in a house with grandparents who insisted that her dad first-footed promptly.
ReplyDeleteThe idea is to be close after midnight so no unauthorized person (blonde, female, young, bald, anything) can first foot and bring bad luck.
DeleteNo one at all has crossed my threshold except for me in almost a week. Doesn't matter though because as jabblog pointed out, we southerners just eat our black-eyed peas and consider that to be adequate.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter how long it takes as long as the dark haired man is first!
DeleteFirst footing is new to me. The only man to cross the threshold after midnight is Mark and he does not have dark hair. Bad luck for us. It sounds like a good day with HS and I will pass on garbanzo mayo!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, jinxed! But maybe that only applies if you believe in it.
DeleteHandsome Son makes a fine first-footer. Your afternoon tea sounds a lovely way to start the New Year. We celebrated the first dinner of this new year by rolling grape leaves into Lebanese dolmas, with a dear friend. Also - first snow of the winter fell in town yesterday (yay!!!). It will melt by this afternoon, per weather forecast, but it's still beautiful.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
I know the Greek dolmades, so I suppose Lebanese is similar? Your first snow sounds pretty late, but Happy New Year and Snow anyway!
DeleteSecond latest first snow in the last 100 years, and yes, dolmas = dolmades. I suspect every family has a slightly different stuffing recipe.
DeleteBelated Happy 2025 to you, Boud, and thanks for the info about first footing which was new to me and so I learned something new, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, and happy New Year to you!
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