The Gauchos Keep Coming!

Texas de Brazil
August 2, 2009

An all-you-can-eat meat buffet? Oh, we’re so there!

The first time I heard about Texas de Brazil - Churrascaria or Brazilian Steakhouse (http://www.texasdebrazil.com/) was from a friend who lives in Florida. She posted pictures in her Facebook account and described how she enjoyed her overall experience there. It sounded so much fun and interesting that when Texas de Brazil opened up in Town Square in Las Vegas, I immediately added it to my “restaurants to visit” list.

I told my husband and stepson that I wanted to go to this “all-you-can-eat meat” buffet place. No further convincing was required. They were ready to go!

The modern day steakhouse was lively with music and people stirring. A lovely hostess led us to a semi-private section. Our reserved table was brightened up by elegant blue water goblets. To the right of each plate setting was a mini tong that rested on a round red card. Our friendly waitress explained that when we were ready for the “meat feast,” all we had to do was turn the card over and show the green side. That would signal the gauchos to come to our table. The gauchos are the meat carvers carrying two-foot long skewers of meat specialties for our taking. As long as the card is green, they will keep coming. The tong was to be used to pull the portions off the skewer.

To start us off, our waitress gave us Brazilian house-baked cheese bread. You could tell it was fresh from the oven: warm, soft and tasty with the cheese filling. Next, we checked out the 50-item seasonal salad bar that included appetizers, soup, salads, and sides. I had a little of everything. I couldn’t resist the lobster bisque soup, heart of palm, artichokes, roasted bell peppers and zucchini. I also tried items that I’ve never had before like the Peruvian or Brazilian salad. But popular favorites were available too like Carpaccio, Romaine lettuce, asparagus spears, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and mozzarella balls. So, picky eaters are covered. They were all yummy!

As soon as I finished my starters, I flipped my card to green. No sooner did the gauchos come flocking to our table! I was wrong to think that it would take them a while to come around carrying the meat-filled skewers. I must say, I was overwhelmed when offered filet mignon, BBQ pork ribs, parmesan chicken, lamb, pork loin, chorizo sausage and more. Oh my! But the one to remember is the signature sirloin called “picanha” which was a melt-in-your-mouth sirloin steak!

While we were there, I noticed that the restaurant staff moved about non-stop. The service was remarkable! It showed that the staff loved their jobs and were proud to be there. I glanced at the other tables around. There were a lot of big groups at long tables. But big or small parties, they were all having a great time at this “churrascaria.”

This truly is a meat-lovers heaven. My family and I agreed that we would have to come back and experience this all over again!

Dancing in Doggie Heaven

June 29, 2009

She was a lovely Keeshond, a mid-sized dog that looked like a cross between a German Spitz and a very subdued wolf. She had the prettiest face (and she knew it too) and had a plush coat of gray and black fur -- thus, she was given the name Ashes.

Oh, she made the greatest family pet. We used to joke that because she was so tame, she would probably lick a burglar to death. We thought we lost her once and that created quite a stir in the house. Come to find out, she had locked herself in the bathroom. But she just sat there silently -- no barking nor scratching on the door. She just waited for us to find her. When we finally did, she happily jumped up, flipped her tightly curled tail, and panted wildly with tongue hanging from her smiling milk mouth.

Who wouldn't be fond of this sweet creature that I call a furball? She wants to constantly be around people. Whenever my husband and I are cuddled in front of the TV, she would inject herself and stick her nose between us as if to say, "Hi guys! Remember me?"

But that was years ago. At almost 13 years old, Ashes suffered from arthritis and began to have "accidents" inside the house. Apparently, she was in so much pain that she couldn't muster the strength to go outside and "do her business." Recently, she became very lethargic and thirsty all the time. We soon discovered that she had developed diabetes. At that point, we made the commitment of giving her insulin shots twice a day. On schedule. No fail.

Then we noticed how the medication caused her to lose her sense of sight. I would call out her name and oddly, she would turn the other way. It made me sad to look in her clouded eyes and not see my reflection in them. Her blindness caused her to seem disoriented at times, bumping into walls, or walking in circles. It broke my heart to see her in this sorry state. So we made the difficult decision to finally put her down.

The lady vet arrived at our house promptly at 10 am. She was wearing scrubs and held what looked like a big toolbox. Just the sight of her already brought tears to my eyes and I had to grab a box of tissues. To prepare us for the inevitable, she walked us through the process and carefully explained every detail we should expect.

Following her instructions, my husband and I flanked Ashes on each side and stroked her lovely hair. Meanwhile, my stepson placed a bowl of food in front of her -- all part of the distraction so that the vet could inject Ashes with anesthesia from behind. The lady vet said it would take about 3 minutes and then she stepped outside to give us some privacy.

Ashes immediately gobbled up that food, gnawing and licking excitedly...and then slowly, ever so slowly, she drifted off to a deep sleep. My heart sank and I started to sob in unison with my family. We muttered our parting words and continued to caress her.

Minutes later, the lady vet returned and shaved Ashes' leg in preparation for the next procedure. Throughout this process, she kept explaining that Ashes was totally unconscious to know or feel what was happening. I knew that she was just trying to comfort us with her words but I wanted her to just shut up. I completely understood what was happening. "Please, no need for you to state the obvious," I wanted to say.

In the middle of the vet's blabbing, Ashes suddenly appeared awake and looked like she was chewing on a giant invisible bone. She was having a seizure which, the lady vet explained, was not unusual. More anesthetic was induced. When we confirmed that we were ready, she pulled out a thick syringe filled with what resembled pink lemonade. She patted the shaved area of Ashes' leg with her forefinger and then gave her the final shot. Using a stethoscope, she later confirmed that Ashes was gone.

Our next guest was an elderly man from the Pet Crematorium. Unobtrusively, he walked into our home with a folded velvet blanket under his arm. "Do you need a few more minutes?" he asked almost in a whisper. When I answered, "We're ready," he put a tag on Ashes' right leg which I held and caressed one last time. The identifying tag was to ensure that we correctly get back the remains of our pet. "With your permission, I'd like to put a bag over her," he once again said in a faint voice. I nodded as I wiped my tears and blew my nose. I helped lift Ashes into the bag. Her lifeless body was by now beginning to lose warmth. Then the compassionate man proceeded to wrap Ashes with the velvet blanket and gently carried her away.

I knew all along that I would miss her so much. But last night, the grief just ambushed me and I started to sob away again. How I cried at the painful thought that she will no longer be rushing out to greet me when I come home.

Friends and family who knew Ashes sent words of condolences, my favorite of which was: "She's in doggie heaven, running around like the active young puppy she once was. She's now making a mess eating her meal up in the clouds instead of in your laundry room. No more pain, no more blindness."

Shimmy, Shimmy, Shimmy!

I went to a belly dancing class yesterday and had a great experience. I had no expectations of the class at all. I knew I was going to learn how to shimmy and do the belly roll...and have fun while I was at it. But the unique class helped me feel...well, sexy and comfortable in my skin! The teacher's focus was more on the enjoyment of it all. She encouraged the women to "expand their feminine beauty and creativity." What a wonderful form of release!

I came a little late (my darn TomTom gave me the wrong directions) but my friend, Robin, said it was no biggie. The class had already begun and there were about a dozen ladies in the dance studio. I went straight to the back and kicked off my shoes.

"You need to grab one of these," Robin said pointing to her costume and then led me to a pile of different colored scarves at one end of the room. I picked up a white chiffon material, fringed with coin-like embellishments, and wrapped it around my hips. The coins jiggled with my movements as I followed Robin to our spot in the back row of students.

The ladies all around me were wearing hip scarves themselves and had just learned to slide their heads left and right while their hands were over their heads, palms together. The dance instructor demonstrated other fun steps like the shoulder shimmy, while stepping forward and then back. Or the hip toss, alternating left and right, while circling wrists gracefully. Then we came to the tummy roll. Ummm...I missed the earlier instruction on how to do that correctly.

Goldie, the instructor, must have noticed how I was desperately trying get it right. She gestured for me to stand next to her while she showed me step by step the proper way to do it. She asked me to push out my behind while extending my chest forward. Then in a slow serpentine manner, lift my chest...lean back...and contract (as though someone had pushed down on my chest)... and then do it all over again. It felt really great once I got the hang of it!

My favorite step was the hip roll. You stand with one foot forward (on ball of foot). Arms up above your head, back of hands almost touching, fingers relaxed. Then you slowly push out your hip and make a wide circular motion with it. It's like the Tom Jones' grind. Then you repeat with the other hip. Oh yeah! It was so much fun!

The finale: Each of us had to dance free form underneath a blanket size scarf that is being held up by the other ladies. One by one, we took our turns doing our own belly dance moves underneath this chiffon cloud. To show support, we had to cheer each other on by yelling "Yella Yella Habibi!" which means "Come on" or "Let's go baby!" It's like the Middle Eastern version of limbo rock.

The Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

a.k.a. the saguaro cactus

I've taken road trips from Phoenix to Las Vegas many times but never really thought about the saguaro much until my recent trip. It just occured to me that I don't see this type of cactus in the Las Vegas desert. Naturally, I began to look it up to satisfy my curiosity.

To pronounce "saguaro" correctly, say "suh-WAHR-oh." It is a large, tree-sized cactus species that grows only in the Sonoran Desert, one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. Also known as the Gila Desert, the Sonoran Desert sits in the US-Mexican border and covers parts of Arizona, California, and the Mexican states Sonora and Baja California. Here you will find many unique animal and plant species such as the saguaro cactus.

Some of these saguaros grow really tall. I read that it takes about 75 years before it even grows an arm! They have a very long life span and sometimes can live for more than 150 years.

I found a great resource for answering common questions such as where and how do they grow or why are they pleated. Simply click on this link to learn more: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf

Won't You Take Me To Dodgertown?

Ah yes, baseball is in the air! What better way to enjoy Spring Training season than to visit the newly opened 141-acre complex called Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. This state-of-the-art facility is the new Spring Training headquarters for the Dodgers and the White Sox.

As my husband and I approached the complex, the jolly sound of steel drums grew louder. It seemed as if the lively Carribean beats were being played by a Baseball Pied Piper who is luring fans of the sport and promising them a day of enjoyment. The day couldn't have been more beautiful in baseball wonderland: sunny with blue skies, calm winds, and a high of 88 degrees.

Walking past the main gate, we made our way to the genuine MLB merchandise store FIRST and got us some Dodger hats and shirts. (Of course!) Then I had to stop for some grilled corn-on-the-cob, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with seasoning salt. (Just couldn't resist.) Finally, we followed a winding pathway to the stadium to find our seats. The Dodger players were already warming up on the field. I ran to take a picture of Ethier (ooh, Ethier!), Kemp, and Pierre. (I almost lost my hat in the process!)

The place was just gorgeous and everyone around was friendly and in good spirits. The lemonade vendor walked up and down the stands yelling "GIT yer ICE cold LEMonade...RIGHT herrree..." while I was busy digging into my backpack for all my gadgets: camera, videocam, and camera phone. Thank goodness I sat next to a Whoopi Goldberg look-alike who was happy to take our picture.

The are 13 full baseball fields in this facility: 6 for each team plus the 10,000-seat main stadium. A man-made lake in the middle of the property separated the Dodger team practice fields from those of the White Sox.

We returned the next day as early as 9 am so we could watch the players practice. It was amazing to be among these great MLB players up close! Players like Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin were just a few feet away from us. Funny how their warm-up exercises -- stretching in the outfield, catching and throwing drills, and batting practice --were not any different from those performed by college baseball players.



Amidst all this excitement, little miss mini bladder here wandered into a building looking for the ladies room. In the hallway, I walked up to a man wearing a badge. "Which way to the restrooms?" I asked and he politely gave me directions. The restrooms were clean and regular-looking. But on my way out, I began to think that there was something peculiar about the place.

I saw a media room where two young uniformed players were reviewing a video tape. Across was another room that had a big green screen and a professional camera in front of it. This place is a bit odd, I thought. I glanced around and to the left of the hallway I found a cafeteria, a therapy room (with rows of massage tables), and a gym. To the right of the hallway, I noticed...(gasp!) the Manager's Office...(double gasp!) the Coaches Lounge, and...(triple gasp!) the Players' Locker Room! OMG! I was in the Dodger Clubhouse!

Later on, I found out that officials told my husband to shoo when he happened to stand in front of the pathway leading to the building. He was told that only those with proper credentials are allowed in the area. I still don't know how I got there or how I didn't get kicked out right away.

As the players left the practice fields, we joined the fans in approaching them them to take their pictures and request for autographs. My husband asked me if I wanted a picture with Furcal. "Where is he?" I asked with wide eyes and then hurried to the spot where he pointed. I couldn't believe that the Major League player leaned close to me (we were almost cheek to cheek) for the shot!

"Ugh! My eyes are closed!" I cried when I reviewed the photo. But that's not all. I later realized that it wasn't even Furcal. It was Xavier Paul. But hey, he's still a Dodger!

Captivating Coraline

Valentine's Day

Everything we did during Valentine's Day this year was different. It wasn't that we did anything extraordinary. Just non-traditional. So was the choice of movie that we decided to see. The little child in me, who enjoys animation like no other, kept bugging Alan to see Coraline. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have given in. But since it was "Love Day," he relented. (Hooray!)

Coraline, based on the award-winning children's classic by British author Neil Gaiman, is a story about a young girl's adventure. Having moved to a new home, she discovers a secret world where things were seemingly perfect. When this alternate world turns perilous, Coraline uses her determination, wit, and bravery to battle her way back home.

The 3-D movie was a product of a team of animators led by director Henry Selick, who likes "unusual and scary animation." Through their clever use of stop motion and puppetry, their hand-crafted miniature puppets, props, and sets vividly brought to life the words and the storytelling of author Neil Gaiman.

Right from the beginning of the movie, I was transfixed. Everything looked so real…like you can almost touch and feel everything you see. It’s as though you were physically there with Coraline. Unlike Wallace and Grommit films, the characters’ movements in this movie are much smoother and more true-to-life.

There were parts of this fantasy/adventure that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. It was surreal and at times absurd…but always enchanting. Also typical of Henry Selick’s animated films (think “A Nightmare Before Christmas”), the presentation of this fairytale nightmare was spellbinding even if at times dark and creepy.

Completing the overall effect was the music. They had children's choirs from Budapest and Nice providing vocals that enthralled you and transported you to this incredible and magical world.

Reading about the making of this film helped me to appreciate it even more. Would you believe it took 3 years of hand-making? Everything...the set, the costumes, the puppets...everything was handmade! Check out this video. Please excuse the 15 seconds of commercials. Click here to "meet the cast."

The official website's introduction describes it best:
“You’re about to enter a world where everything you’ll see has been created by hand…like a forest of cherry blossoms made from painted popcorn.”

Vino at The View

February 7, 2009

Today's showers and chilly 45 degree temperature made it the ultimate "I-just-wanna-snuggle-in-bed-all-day" weather. While I didn't make it to my friend's birthday party for her 2 year old twins in Pahrump, (sorry again, Amy), I somehow made it to an evening of Wine Tasting at View 215. My friend Cameron invited me earlier this week and I gladly obliged. I knew it was going to be a fun event.

I've driven past the View 215 building before but I thought it was just a restaurant. Dubbing themselves "A Special Place for Your Special Occasion," it is a new event venue and banquet facility.

After registering at the reception desk...and getting suckered into signing up for a raffle (still don't know what the prize is), I was directed to take the elevator to the 3rd floor. My final destination was a gorgeous banquet hall large enough to seat 50 guests when set up theater-style for a wedding. But for tonight's event, it was set up cocktail style with an estimated 150-200 guests buzzing about, hopping from one wine tasting table to the next. Providing a dramatic backdrop was a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip's colorful neons. At the far right end, couples on the dance floor were swaying to slow jazz tunes rendered by a live band.

Being a VIP guest (ahem), I was led to a private room called the "Bride Room." During weddings, this room is used as the bride's dressing room. It's about the same size as a standard bedroom with its own bathroom. Elegantly furnished, this corner room led to a patio that overlooked the same breath-taking view that I saw in the main hall. (Must be great to be in this very spot on New Year's Eve to watch the city's fireworks display!) You can view more pictures with this link: http://www.view215.com/gallery.php. Sitting below the picture window was a black leather sectional sofa where a few friendly guests gathered (like Raquel and Monica shown in photo). They were sipping wine while watching a UNLV Rebel game on the flat screen TV.

Not long after, I finally found Cameron (and also met David) and we began our wine tasting tour. We sampled different vinos such as J. Lohr "Old Vine" Zinfandel, Willakenzie Pinot Noir, Michele Chiarlo "Nivole" Moscato, Rosenblum "Desiree" Port, and Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc. In between tastings, we visited the food station where they had chicken and beef satays, sushi rolls, and cocktail shrimp. Another table offered fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. By the time I reached Wine Tasting Table 4, they were out of the Little Black Dress Pinot Noir. What? Darn, I just missed it! But I wasn't too disappointed because they replenished the dessert station -- a chocolate fountain with plenty of goodies for dipping: fresh strawberries, brownies, cream puffs, marshmallows, and pretzel sticks. I believe we spent most of our time here.

What caught my eye was the table where they had 7 unopened bottles of "Seven." I did not see anyone manning this table and while there were little plastic cups next to the bottles, no one was serving and no one was drinking. The only other thing on the table was a laptop playing an informational video about this beverage. So leave it to me, the curious adventurer, to find out more about it. I approached the gentleman from the nearest Wine Tasting Table. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he was just as curious as I was. He gladly opened one of the bottles and let me have a taste. (As did he.)

It turns out that this special drink is a fusion of seven powerful exotic ingredients that help promote vibrant health:
1. Gac fruit - known to help promote smooth skin and bright eyes
2. Acai berry - believed to have phenomenal healing powers
3. Goji berry - helps to promote health and longevity
4. Noni fruit - also has mythical healing properties
5. Fucoidan - a nutrient found in a South Pacific seaweed.
Its nutrition closely resembles human breast milk.
6. Mangosteen fruit - known for its amazing restorative and medicinal properties
7. Seabuckthorn - legendary in its potent nutrition and source of vitality

And how are these 7 ingredients blended together? With structure water -- which is, according to the website, "similar to the fluid found in healthy cells. With a higher pH, structured water can be more easily absorbed by your body." This explains my reaction when I took a sip. I thought it tasted like crushed berries and water. The promotional literature encourages people to take a 7-day challenge towards a healthier lifestyle. eXfuze Seven+ is a liquid supplement rich with nutrients that fight against lack of energy, poor sleep, aches and pains, unhealthy weight, and poor nutrition. Ha! I learned something new again tonight!

To Hookah or Not to Hookah

Inhaaaaaale . . . hold it all in . . . take a shot of Jägermeister . . . then, release the smoke . . . and aaah . . . now repeat . . .

I smoked hookah for the very first time at Santa Fe Station Casino's circle bar called Club 4949. My husband, Alan, was hesitant to join me at first. He thought we were going to a dance club. Far from it, actually. It's a contemporary lounge -- a place to just hang out, listen to Metal Rock music, have a few drinks, and smoke hookah.

By the time Alan and I arrived, our friends Jay and Deb (a young couple who invited us to experience this craze) were already seated at the velvety dark brown sofa at the far end, opposite from the entrance. They had just finished smoking mojito-flavored tobacco.

Sitting atop a low table in front of them was the fancy waterpipe. Its water-filled base looked like a flask, triangular in shape at the bottom with a long narrow neck and stem. Connected to the stem is a hose used to smoke the tobacco. Charcoal and tobacco is stored in a bulb-looking container on top of this gadget.

I guess how it works is that the water acts as a filter and cools the burning of the tobacco. It makes inhaling the smoke a lot smoother than smoking a cigarette. And you don't really need to deeply inhale. You can take in just enough and let it linger in your mouth before releasing the smoke clouds. (See more resources at the end of this article.)

Deb handed me a plastic disposable tip to put on the hose for smoking. (We each had our own to use as we took turns with the hookah.) With the hose on my lips, I inhaled like sucking on a straw. The water in the base bubbled up as though rocking to Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” (check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeRa3RtBiIU) which was blaring through the speakers. I let the cool smoke fill up my mouth and then slowly, I let out itty-bitty smoke puffs.

It didn’t make me feel dizzy nor giddy. What gave me a buzz were the shots of Jägermeister I had in between puffs. :o)

So is hookah good for you? Here’s what I found: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hookah/AN01265

Smoking – no matter how you do it – is still smoking.

Resources:
How to smoke hookah
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/hookahlove/70-how-to-smoke-a-hookah-hookah-charcoal-and-heat-management.html
To find out more about Hookah lounges in town and how much it costs: http://vegasmadeeasy.com/nightlife/hookah-lounges/52-las-vegas-hookah-lounges

To see a diagram and how it operates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah

Something Bean

New Year's Day 2009


Got an e-mail invite to a New Year's Day Champagne Brunch at Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe. [Wait! Isn't Tommy Bahama an island-inspired clothing store? Well, yes, but there are a few store locations with a cafe. One of them can be found at Las Vegas' Town Square. It's an ideal concept meant for visitors who love being able to shop for clothes while sipping their favorite tropical drinks.]

Working on New Year's Day is not unusual in a city that never sleeps. Danielle and I were among the "fortunate few" who had to show up for work on the first day of '09. I shared with her the e-mail and it didn't take much to convince her to go with me. She thought it was a genius idea! By noon, our excitement had built up and we made our way to the restaurant.

As we approached the hostess stand, I noticed their "Top Shelf Bloody Mary Bar" where you could select from a wide array of top shelf imported and domestic vodkas with garnishes and mixers including Pickled Green Beans, Maytag Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives, Celery Stalks, and Asparagus Spears, to name a few.
The courteous staff led us to a comfy booth in their Garden Room. Large throw pillows with typical Tommy Bahama colors and prints were already seated and anxiously waiting for us to join them. The palm tree designs and accentuating green tea color in the room created a soothing ambience. Add to that the ceiling fans and the Carribean tunes in the background and voila! We immediately switched on an island attitude. It reminded me of Tommy Bahama's company mantra: "Relax...Life is One Long Weekend." It made our mimosas taste even better!

My $17 brunch entree, the "Tommy's Crab Cakes Benedict," was exactly what I hoped it would be: deliciously poached eggs and panko crusted crab cakes on sourdough bread with Canadian ham served with classic hollandaise. It was accompanied by Idaho breakfast potatoes and tropical fresh fruit. Yum!
Danielle on the other hand opted for the "New Orleans Shrimp & Grits" -- Lightly blackened jumbo shrimp on jalapeno and Tillamook cheddar cheese grits with creamy Creole Meuniere sauce. Both were mmm...good! With every bite, we reaffirmed our earlier statement that this was a brilliant idea. The friendly and attentive staff also helped make our experience a pleasure.

But what really caught our attention was this item on the menu: "Something Bean, Something Green, Something Ham....Start off 2009 with some good luck...New Year's Day Black Eyed Peas: A Bowl of slow simmered Black Eyed Peas with Country Seasonings, Smoked Ham and Collard Greens. (A Southern Tradition for Good Luck in the New Year)"

I've never had that before nor heard of that tradition. It was Danielle who suggested we order it. I just had to try it...and when I did, I was pleasantly surprised! I could definitely taste the salty ham flavoring which livened up the soft, creamy black eyed peas and collard greens. Delicious!

Of course, the curious side of me had to learn more about this tradition and here's what I found on Answerbag.com: "This is a tradition that began in the south. On December 31, 1862 many African Americans waited up all night for President Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. Several renegade confederates had their last raid on the slave quarters and took all food from them except the black-eyed peas because they had black in them. The Blacks rejoiced because the soldiers left the black eyed peas, cracklin and they had greens. They had been spared and the peas brought them good luck. Thus on New Year's Eve many Black Churches have the Watch Service and celebrate with black eyed peas, greens, cornbread, cabbage and some sort of pork potluck."

I also learned that the black eyed pea is actually a bean which is low in fat and sodium, contains no cholesterol, but high in iron and potassium (important for building muscle and metabolizing protein and carbohydrates). It's believed to have its origins in Asia, brought to the West Indies and then later to the southern United States by way of the slave trade. They are traditionally thought to bring luck and prosperity when eaten on New Year's Day. The peas symbolize coins while the greens symbolize paper money. They also say that since black eyed peas swell when cooked, it symbolizes swelling of good fortune.