Betcha thought you’d been seeing hats and horns and champagne glasses clinking, right? Nope, we get right down to the food, surprise!

It’s not easy to write the opening for a new year. So much has already been said at this point so let’s just barrel through and get this party started…Happy 2020! Did you have a fun-filled and boisterous ball drop or do you prefer the solitude of quietly bringing in the New Year with a champagne toast followed quickly by bedtime? We’ve been there and done that (got the tee-shirt multiple times) whole “let’s have a rip-roaring NYE party” thing. It’s highly overrated but when I was a kid and couldn’t participate, I thought it was the coolest! After years in the food industry, we know it’s just another Amateur Night where the food is mediocre and super expensive, the entertainment is usually similar (I mean, how many times can you listen to IJ Ganem and his band?) and the party is the same party you’ve attended for the past 5 to 10 years. We opt for the quiet version with friends and doing our own “thang”. It’s way safer to stay in and be with the people who really mean the most to you, right? We stop just short of singing Auld Lang Syne (you know how Natalia loves her sound effects and music!) but we do let you in on the exciting lives of podcasters. Of course, we tell you all about it in this episode. I failed to mention on my part that although my boyfriend and I do not partake in this activity, his brother and family put round items in their pockets and jump up and down outside for their midnight festivities. Not quite sure where that good luck comes from…I’ll have to ask. What we do share with you, in addition to our shenanigans, is New Year’s good luck food traditions. Mine are deeply rooted in the South even though Oklahoma is more of a Plains State. We sure behave like we’re there so maybe I should refer to our traditions as more country food, actually, soul food. You must have black-eyed peas, collards, and corn bread on New Year’s Day for good luck. We go into what all that means and how we were first introduced to those foods (special thanks to Steven Howard for helping Natalia out) so no spoilers here, you’ll have to listen. Also included are our take on New Year’s resolutions, yes, we have an opinion or five and healthier eating in the New Year. In general, don’t lose your mind and go overboard. Keep it simple! So here’s what you’ve all been waiting for…drumroll, please, Season 2, Episode 9 and Happy New Year!

2019 marked our 10-year anniversary of teaching! And, we’re looking forward to another 10 years of something (together, of course) so you’ll have to stay tuned for that! In this episode’s Tips and Tricks, you’ll get the ends and outs of grilling vegetables. Now, don’t yawn! Vegetables are underrated but can add so much life to your meals. Grill them and don’t overcook them and they will serve the new healthy-ish you in an easy lifestyle change. As always, thanks for listening! Please subscribe, download, review, comment…all those things! They mean so much to us but not as much as you! We start winding down this season in our next episode so you don’t want to miss it!