New Year's Day Good Luck Brunch— A Southern Tradition

by Wendy Van Wagner

My dear friend Ellie hails from New Orleans, Louisisna. One of her southern family traditions to bring in the New Year has always been to cook and serve a savory brunch on New Years Day. The foods that are traditionally served at this brunch are all significant in some way; they usher in the hopes and dreams of the coming year.

They celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are usually cooked with either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is eaten on New Year's Day. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is also a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

Ellie always tells the story of growing up in the South and having the women on her mother's side of the family get together and cook all of these lucky foods all morning, making a veritable feast for the early afternoon shared by their loved ones. I have always appreciated the communal aspect of this tradition and, of course, that it involves food!

When we were in collage she carried on this tradition by making the special New Years brunch for some of our friends. This year for a group of my friends, I will be re-creating this wonderful southern tradition, Northern California style... vegetarian! We will have to come up with a hog alternative!

Some of the recipes that make up this brunch are listed below. Give this tradition a try, or come up with your own menu with foods that reflect your own hopes and dreams for 2009!

Collard Greens

INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds of collard greens
1 ham hock or 6 slices of cooked bacon
1 medium onion, sliced or chopped
1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:
Clean and wash greens well; remove tough stems and ribs. Cut them up and place in a deep pot; add onion. Wash off ham hock and add to the pot. Add red pepper and salt. Add enough water to cover greens and cook until tender, about 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with sliced tomato and corn bread.
Serves 4 to 6.

Skillet Corn Bread

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup corn flour
1 cup white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup buttermilk
4 tbsp. butter (1/2 stick)

DIRECTIONS:
In 10-inch skillet over low heat, melt butter. Spoon 2 tablespoons melted butter (1/4 stick) into medium bowl. With fork, stir in milk, and remaining ingredients until you have a thick batter.
Once the skillet is hot, pour your batter into the skillet, cook on medium heat until set and semi-firm. Place the whole skillet in the oven and finish cooking for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
Makes 8 servings.

Wendy Van Wagner is the owner of local cooking school IN THE KITCHEN, offering classes to both kids and adults. Join the revival of taste, table and tradition!
Tel:478-0669 | IN THE KITCHEN, 648 Zion Street, Nevada City, CA
Website: www.wendyvanwagner.com | Blog: www.localfoodtastesbetter.wordpress.com

Tips for Bonding With Your Unborn Child

by Gayle Peterson, MSSW, LCSW, PhD

QUESTION: I am 17 weeks pregnant. I know the vibrations of my voice can be heard within the womb and my partner enjoys babbling to my belly. Is it possible to bond prenatally with your baby? If so, do you have any tips?

ANSWER: The ear is the most developed organ prior to birth. The ear appears in the third week of pregnancy, is functional by the 16th week, and your baby actively responds to sound in utero, usually by the 23rd week of pregnancy. So babble away. Your baby is not only listening, but learning, too. In fact, language lessons actually begin in the womb!

Research reported by prenatal music therapist Giselle Whitwell in her article, “The Importance of Prenatal Sound and Music” (www.birthpsychology.com), points to sound as not only stimulating language development, but also links prenatal sound stimulation (such as talking and music) to later development of thinking and IQ. (It is interesting to note that song birds hatched from silent foster mothers don’t sing!) Your baby not only hears your voice, but is learning the foundations of language to boot!

Your baby can learn to recognize the sounds of your voice and daddy’s voice in the last month of pregnancy. And when born, your baby will be likely to turn towards the sounds of your voices over others. Yes, indeed your baby is listening to you already... your conversations, inflections of your words, the cadence of your speech patterns are already being absorbed by ears that are hearing from within the womb!

Consider these prenatal exercises to promote your bond to your unborn child:

1. Talk to your baby

Massaging your womb gently and talking softly to your unborn child is not new. Mothers have done it throughout time. But dads, too, can get acquainted with their baby prenatally, by talking through the waters, while gently massaging skin cream or oils that help protect the skin from stretch marks, for example.

Many mothers report feeling silly , at first, talking out loud to their babies in the womb. But, in private, you will easily overcome your initial embarrassment. Save time to talk to your baby, in the bath, or before you go to sleep. Make it a habit once or twice during the day to say something loving out loud! And why not ask your partner for a “good night” massage and verbal expressions of love and encouragement to your little one on the inside?

(And by the way, continuing to talk to your baby after birth is just as critical to ongoing language and thinking skills!)

2. Push gently on your baby and you will likely get a push back!

While there is no need to prod and poke, do gently touch your baby through the womb. In the last month of pregnancy, you are likely to be able to see a heel which ripples across your abdomen. A father can also push gently, to find a foot or shoulder, and the baby pushes back, automatically responding to your touch. Feeling your baby respond to your touch, while in the womb, can be very thrilling, when it occurs!

3. Play music and sing to your baby!

Music is thought to be pre-linguistic and contributes to your baby’s foundation for language skills. Listening to music yourself, and singing tunes you enjoy can provide healthy stimulation for your child’s development.

Be aware, too, that noxious sound stimulation which creates anxiety and fear can be stressful. So stay away from continuously loud and obnoxious sounds that create stress for you, rather than pleasure!

The ear is an incredibly sensual organ and your womb is already rich in sound...the beating of your heart, the rhythmic swoosh of the placenta, even the gurgles of your stomach are music to your baby’s ears. These internal sounds are comforting to your baby, too. Remember that the function of sound is also to soothe. Lullabies are an example of the way we are soothed through our ears.

Speaking, singing and touching your baby through the womb all provide ways to begin your relationship with your unborn child. You are creating a loving prenatal environment when you talk to, touch and caress your baby through the waters of your womb. Do not delay. Express your love in words. Your baby is listening!

Gayle Peterson, MSSW, LCSW, PhD is a family therapist specializing in prenatal and family development. Visit her website at www.makinghealthyfamilies.com

In the Blog

If you haven't visited the First 5 Blog yet, there are some great posts you might be interested in:

• What Children Need
• Toddler Nutrition
• Healthy Discussions With Your Spouse
• Ode to Winter Squash
• Six Food Mistakes Parents Make

January Events

Mondays
Mother Dance
Dance class for moms and pre-walking babies designed to nourish and nurture both Mom and baby with an opportunity to connect intimately through touch, movement, rhythm and dance! Mondays 10:30-11:30. Cost $10/class.
Moving Ground Studio, Grass Valley
Phone: 272-4240

January 9-11
7th annual Wild & Scenic Environmental
Film Festival
With 130 films and 100 speakers, WSEFF is the largest environmental Film Festival in the country. Held at various locations in Nevda City.
Phone: 265-5961
wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

January 19 – March 27
Baby & Me
Join in for songs, playtime, and discussion while getting to know other parents and babies. Groups forming now to start the week of January 19 for a 10-week session. Birth to 12 months. Weekday mornings in Grass Valley. FREE to first-time participants, sliding scale fee up to $50 for 10 sessions for subsequent groups.
Phone: Meg 913-2745
e-mail: meg@first5nevco.org
first5nevco.org/programs.cfm

January 19 – March 27
Toddler & Me
Join in for songs and playtime in a preschool setting while getting to know other parents and toddlers. Groups forming now to start the week of January 19 for a 10-week session. 12 to 24 months. Weekday afternoons in Nevada City. FREE to first-time participants, sliding scale fee up to $50 for 10 sessions for subsequent groups.
Phone: Samie 265-0611 x223
e-mail: samie@first5nevco.org
first5nevco.org/programs.cfm

January 20
Newborn Care Class
Taught by Laurie Chamberlin, CD, ICCE,LE
6-8:30 p.m. Cost $30. Call to register.
Phone: 530-477-5442
www.lauriechamberlin.com

January 23, 24, 30, 31
Rodgers and Hammersteins' FLOWER DRUM SONG
CATS will be producing the Tony-nominated Broadway version by David Henry Hwang. It is a lot of fun with loads of singing and dancing accompanied by a live orchestra! Tickets $20-25. Showtime 8 p.m.
Phone: 273-6362
catsweb.org

January 29, February 26, March 26
Fifth Annual Family Fun Nights
Grass Valley School Readiness Program
Three fun evenings for families of preschoolers planning to attend Grass Valley School District. Each family will receive 3 picture books each evening, with a fun activity to do with your child to help get her ready for school. Refreshments, child care and prizes! 6 to 7:30 p.m. Hennessey School, FREE.
Phone: 273-4059
e-mail: kristen@first5nevco.org
first5nevco.org/schoolreadiness/events.cfm

Storytimes

Bear River Library: 271-4147
Grass Valley LIbrary: 477-5790
Nevada City Library: 265-1538
Penn Valley Library: 432-5764
Truckee Library: 582-7846
Web: mynevadacounty.com/library

Every Tuesday

Toddler Time Book Reading (GV)
Storytime for toddlers at 10:30 a.m. at the Grass Valley Library.

Toddler Time Book Reading (TRK)
Storytime for toddlers at 10:30 a.m. at the Truckee Library.

Pre-School Story Time (PV)
Storyitime for preschoolers at 10:15 a.m. at the Penn Valley Library.

Pre-School Story Time (NC)
Storytime for preschoolers at 10:30 a.m. at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City.

Every Wednesday

Pre-School Story Time (BR)
Storytime for preschoolers at 4:00 p.m. at the Bear River Library.

Mother Goose Time (GV)
Storytime for 0-3 year olds at 10:30-11:00 a.m at the Grass Valley Library

Babes in Bookland (TRK)
Storytime for 0-2 year olds at 10:30 a.m. at the Truckee Library.

Every Thursday

Storytelling w/ Mrs. Fix (TRK)
Storytime for 3-6 year olds at 11:15 a.m. at the Truckee Library.

Sing-a-long for All Ages (NC)
Sing-a-long for children of all ages at 4 p.m. at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City.

Every Friday

Spanish-English Storytime (TRK)
Storytime for children ages 6 & under at 10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Truckee Library.

Every Saturday

Spanish-English Storytime (GV)
Storytime for children ages 1-4 years old at 11:00 a.m. every 2nd and 4th Saturday at the Grass Valley Library.