Coloring Thank You for 2012

I would very much like to express my appreciation to all of you that have supported the Coloring Box. Now in it's third year, I never thought that it would have this kind of readership with almost two thousand readers per month. And the most incredible thing is that you are from all over the world which is a bit overwhelming when you think about it. I guess I'm just happy to know that someone other than my mother reads my ramblings.

I hope that you have enjoyed my musings and have left the blog with a bit more color in your heart and soul. Maybe even a little more hope. By the way, hope really does exist contrary to it being a word in a political campaign and these days, we'll need all of it we can get.

Thanks so much for an incredible 2011 and we'll keep on hitting the keys for an interesting and well read 2012.

To all Coloring Box followers in:

United States
United Kingdom
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
India
Japan
Singapore
Tanzania
Russia
Poland
Latvia
Ukraine
Australia
Belarus

Denmark

Egypt

Italy
Kenya
Latvia
Canada
Ireland
Slovenia
Brazil
France
Chile
Spain
Puerto Rico

and...Mexico

Regards and Best Wishes – 

Edwin S. Holt
Principal

Holt Creative Group
5307 E. Mockingbird Lane, 5th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75206

One King and Queen Left on the Chess Board

Pop music has gotten so bad these days that I absolutely can't stand it. Am I alone? Who is listening to this crap and what is wrong with you? I'm really sorry but Katy Perry is not a musician nor has she any talent whatsoever and it makes me want to throw chairs across the room whenever I hear Last Friday Night. There is nothing real about this music other than the revenue I'm sure it's bringing in for Capital Records. A label that used to actually produce real music.

Over Christmas, Etta James was hospitalized and placed on a breathing machine due to her failing health. She is 73 years old and although not a lot of white people would know her by name, they would recognize her music. She crossed over with one record titled At Last but most of her other recordings were primarily popular with the black market.

Etta James was with Chess Records when Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Chuck Berry were inventing what was called the Chicago sound and the base for what would become rock and roll and soul music. (If you haven't seen the movie Cadillac Records, I highly recommend it.)

Etta James and Chuck Berry are the last of the main five that had such an enormous influence in creating America's music and after Etta is gone, there will obviously be only one left. And Chuck just turned 85 last October.

With Etta James in such poor health, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the men and women that invented America's music. They were slaves, sharecroppers, cotton farmers, Gandy dancers, ice men, butchers, meat packers, gamblers, alcoholics, drug addicts, womanizers, preachers, sinners and saints. 

They were real people and so was the music they played. Music that was created from a troubled man and last time I checked, we've been in trouble ever since Adam and Eve bit that apple.

Play on brothers and sisters.

The Pork And The Pea

The true Southerner is a funny character with many peculiar habits. Most of us like to hunt and fish. We all talk funny, have gun racks and drink ice cold Miller. Oh I might pop a Shiner every now and then but I've managed to keep Miller in business for many years.

One of our most unusual tastes is for our friend the pig. In fact, it would be an accurate statement that I've probably fried more bacon than any other household in East Texas. I've got a number ten skillet so black from pork fat it shines like a mirror made from wet tar and I'm happy to say I'll  be heating the iron once more as I prepare for the New Year's tradition of black-eyed peas.

I think a true Southern cook would find it most interesting that this custom dates back to the Babylonian Talmud compiled around 500 CE which was like a book of rules or laws for the Jewish community. Within it were recommendations of eating certain symbolic foods that were thought to bring good luck.

"Now that you have established these good-luck symbols, you should make it a habit on your table on the New Year."

Qara (squash)
Rubiya (black-eyed peas)
Kartei (kind of like an onion)
Silka (beets or spinach)
Tamrei (dates)

Knowing this, I'll have to ask all my Jewish friends to look away as I'll be adding Porky to the table like any good Southerner would. I'm so sorry my Jewish brothers and sisters but you just can't cook black-eyed peas without pork.

From the table of Paula Deen, I bring you...

Spicy Black-Eyed Peas

Ingredients

4 slices bacon

1 medium onion, chopped

1 (16-ounce) package dried black-eyed peas, washed

1 (12-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 cups water

Directions

In a large dutch oven, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon, crumble, and set aside to use as a topping for the peas. Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until tender. Add the peas, diced tomatoes and green chiles, salt, chili powder, pepper and water. Cover and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the peas are tender. Add additional water, if necessary. Serve garnished with crumbled bacon.

Aside from the luck the black-eyed peas will hopefully bring you this year, I wish you the best for a healthy and profitable 2012. 

From me to you, Happy New Year!