As for the well-known lucky New Year ’ s Day foods , as a kid , I didn ’ t like black-eyed peas or collards , both of which my mother cooked into pond scum . I tried to bargain with her . If the peas were for the “ silver money ” and collards for the “ folding money ,” as she contended , collards were worth more per bite and if I was going to try to choke down anything , it should be those . No , the luck only worked in combination , according to her .
She watched me push the vegetables around on my plate , certainly thinking that if our family ’ s finances collapsed during the coming year , it would be my fault , scofflaw that I was .
I ’ ve heard it said that as you get older , your parents get smarter , and as time passed , I began to see why one might want to curry the favor of unseen forces . I became a sports fan . Not even my mother was more superstitious than sports fans . Lucky socks . Lucky earrings . Lucky decorations . Most importantly , lucky food . If your team wins when you serve a particular food , it doesn ’ t matter if you randomly bought it because it was a BOGO at the store . You must offer the same thing at every tailgate or game viewing party thereafter or risk alienating the sports gods .
The team needs all the luck it can get . The socks can ’ t do it alone .
My sport is college basketball ; in particular , the light blue team beginning with UNC . ( The same color as the flamingoes in my yard .) But the power of lucky food applies to hockey , auto racing and football , too , especially with the Super Bowl coming up .
Wings are often the lucky food , or certainly the most common . The connection between tiny chicken parts and rabid fans started with the rise of sports bars and has continued to grow because wings have several advantages over other snacks . They don ’ t require knives , which might be used against opposing fans , offer some substance to balance alcohol consumption ( if fiery enough , encourage it ) and hold up well sitting on a table for a long time .
Wings are relatively inexpensive , except when the price skyrockets . That happens , of course , on Super
Bowl Sunday , the most terrifying time of year to be a chicken trying to fly across the road instead of walk .
Many wings are served deep-fried and tossed in incendiary sauces , so eating them can become a competition for who can endure searing off all sensation on their tongue the longest . I like heat , but I enjoy a balanced flavor . Yet , I have sampled sauces that should ’ ve been served with a side of fire extinguisher . One that ’ s burned into memory was a homemade potion made from chopped garlic , vinegar and chopped brown habaneros , which was smeared on innocent grilled wings .
My entire face turned red . If my mother had been there , she would ’ ve had another explanation for it , I ’ m sure .
We like wings at my house , but they ’ re not the designated lucky food . It ’ s sausage balls . Without them , my team is doomed .
Their power extends back more than four decades , to my first job . I owned a large-ish color TV and was rumored to have food , so during basketball season my house attracted the small newspaper ’ s staff like a thrown elbow draws a technical foul . They would ’ ve eaten anything , really — one guy once consumed an entire block of pepper jack cheese — but the nascent southern hostess in me wanted to offer more . I wasn ’ t much of a cook then , and sausage balls were easy , quick and cheap , consisting of three ingredients : sausage , shredded cheddar and biscuit mix . I could even make them ahead and freeze them .
Like wings , they didn ’ t need utensils . Unlike wings , I wouldn ’ t find chicken bones under the sofa .
They were merely tasty treats until a turn of events turned them into the lucky food .
It was tournament time and the game was close when an official called a foul against our sainted team . One of my guests strongly suggested that the referee make an appointment with an optometrist , then flung a sausage ball at the TV to underscore his concern for the man ’ s eye health . Others followed .
Our team went on to win , and the legend of the lucky sausage balls was born .
A savory snack and expressive projectile . You can ’ t ask for more from game-day food . Except for a win .
JANUARY - FEBRUARY ' 22 ❖ SOUTH ❖ 21