17 toppin recipes

Rustic Italian focaccia topped with roasted red peppers, slow-cooked onions, tomatoes, and fresh basil. Garlic-infused olive oil dough hand-kneaded and dimpled for crispy edges.

Traditional Southern Hoppin' John with dried black-eyed peas, rice, ham, and cayenne. A one-pot New Year's Day staple believed to bring good luck.

Southern Hoppin' John soup with black-eyed peas, ham, rice, collard greens, and a kick of crushed red pepper. A hearty, soul food classic simmered low and slow for deep, smoky flavor.

You can serve this delightful cholesterol-free, high-fiber bread on New Year's Eve instead of the traditional bowl of black-eyed peas believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.

This traditional Southern dish is served on New Year's Day for good luck throughout the year

Vegan Hoppin' John salad with black-eyed peas, brown rice, spinach, and a simple vinegar dressing. A cold, plant-based twist on the Southern New Year's classic.

Georgia-style barbecue moppin sauce with butter, vinegar, Worcestershire, paprika, and cayenne. A thin, tangy basting sauce for smoking poultry and pork.

Hot Hoppin' John salad with black-eyed peas, rice, ham, and crispy bacon served over stir-fried cabbage. A Southern rice and pea dish with a kick of hot sauce.

Vegan Hoppin' John salad tosses black-eyed peas, brown rice, spinach, and onion in a tangy vinegar dressing. A chilled, plant-based take on the Southern New Year's tradition.

Good, inexpensive hearty meal although I would spice it up a little more probably with garlic and more onion.

I created this super comfort food soup after discovering celery root (celeriac) thanks to my European husband. I combine typical American green celery stalks and leaves with celeriac, which extra enhances the soup's flavor and makes it even creamier with just milk. No real cream needed. I top mine with croutons and extra celery leaves. Can easily be made vegetarian.

Along the coast of the Southern US eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a year filled with luck and prosperity. The beans symbolize coins or pennies. Sometimes a penny is added to the pot or can be left under the bowls of Hoppin' John. Greens such as Collards, chard or kale can be added and symbolize the color of money and are said to add to ones wealth in the new year. The day after New Year's Day the leftovers are called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality. A common tradition in the south US is each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to ensure the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that will be collected over the next year.

Pressure cooker Hoppin' John with brown basmati rice, wild rice, black-eyed peas, collard and mustard greens, and stewed tomatoes. A hearty Southern one-pot classic.

Lattice-topped cranberry raisin pie with a buttery vanilla filling and a sparkle of coarse sugar on top. A gorgeous, tart-sweet holiday pie that's a bold change from the usual pumpkin.

Beef with Chinese steak sauce: flash-fried marinated beef in a sweet-savory hoisin-ketchup sauce, served over puffed bean thread noodles. Chinese-American fusion stir-fry with dramatic crunchy noodle presentation.

Raisin crisscross pie blends plump raisins, walnuts, orange and lemon zest into a glossy citrus filling under a buttery lattice crust. A bright twist on the classic raisin pie.