Yesterday (New Years Eve Day) I managed to walk a half-mile in a snowstorm (and slipped & fell on my butt--twice) just to get a haircut and grab some grub for New Years Day. Sour cream potato chips, baked beans, kielbassa & sauerkraut on Celloni hard rolls and of course a giant New Years Pretzel for good luck.
What, you never heard of the New Year's Pretzel? It's an oversized pretzel made of cinnamon roll dough, covered in white icing and you eat it on New Years Day. You're supposed to tear it off in pieces, not cut it with a knife. Cutting it brings bad luck. I always assumed this was a tradition everyone followed, but more & more I'm thinking it's just a Pittsburgh thing. Let me know if this is a tradition with you too.
With the New Year comes a crappy anniversary--it was the first of January 2024 that I developed this infernal long covid. If you go back and read my blog from then (I don't recommend it) I thought it was the return of a jaw disorder I'd suffered with years earlier (lots of oral pain & inflammation). When I was diagnosed with long covid, the initial estimate of duration was 3 months--which became 6--which became a year--which became two.
This past September, I was informed 1 out of 3 people with the condition deal with it 3 years or longer. Bah humbug! I'm optimistic however, it was mostly gone for 3 months this past summer until it's return in September. It's lessened up since then, but I've yet to have a single day without several hours in pain or discomfort.
This past Monday I walked to Kuhn's for some eggs and right when I was exiting the store, my friend Mary from the Senior Center (I haven't been there in 4 months) was coming in. We both froze in front of the store and then just hugged one another. I swear to God, I was so thankful and happy to see her I nearly proposed!
She said "I am just running in for a bag of chips--go stand by my car! I am giving you a lift home!" I thanked her, but told her it was my first time out of my apartment in over a week and I really needed the fresh air and exercise--even if it was only 16F! I'll be so glad when I start visiting the center regularly again.
Anyway, I can really smell that kielbassa and kraut simmering in the kitchen so I'm going to go grab myself a sandwich. Thanks very much for listening to my ramble, to all my rambles this year, and I hope everyone out there has a healthy and Happy New Year.
Happy New Year! And cheers to better health and putting the past in the past.
ReplyDeleteOur tradition is a pork roast with sauerkraut. I went to the grocery store last Sunday but bought pork chops instead of a pork roast and didn't realize the error of my ways. I was going to do pork chops and sauerkraut but have rethought about it and we are having breaded pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy.
I have heard of a New Year's Pretzel but thought it was just a large salted pretzel. A new bakery in town was advertising this week and I guess I should have paid attention - maybe next year?
I did not make our traditional sauerkraut balls this year either. I am realizing I am falling down on the job and tempting fate.
Meanwhile - glad you got out for some fresh air and I am crossing my fingers and toes that this stinking virus leaves you alone once and for all!
Thanks Miss Merry--oh I would've MUCH preferred a pork roast with sauerkraut, you're lucky I don't live closer to you!! Thank you for the kind wishes, I am getting there. You sound better yourself, I sure hope so. XO
DeleteHappy New Year Doug and may this be the year Long Covid finally releases it's grip on you! Never heard of a New Year's Pretzel but if it has icing on it, I'm in, yum!😃
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobi, Happy New Year my dear friend! And yes, the icing on that oversized soft pretzel... oh it's so good :^) They only make these once a year!
DeleteGoodness, it seems like only a day or two since you had a haircut, sez the shaggy old hippie.
ReplyDeleteFor New Year’s Day lunch I made my own version of pesto sauce that we had with ultrathin Japanese noodles. I’m sure the Italians would have disapproved of that (and maybe the Japanese), but I approved mightily, as did the A.M. With that, an excellent Yarra Valley pinot noir.
Nope, I’ve never heard of New Year’s Pretzel until a moment ago, when I read your column.
Besides, pretzels are savory things to have with a cocktail or glass of wine, not something covered in cinnamon and icing. At least, to my mind they are.
I’m even more “bah humbug” about New Year’s than about Christmas (and that’s saying something). I imagine it’s a hell of a lot worse for you with the extra covid reminder.
Thank you Peter, and your lunch sounded very tasty. I'm not a big kielbassa and sauerkraut person, but it's only once a year.... that pretzel was a pretzel in shape only--it's fat & soft, and sweet like a donut. And it's good to know another humbugger :^)
DeleteHappy New Year and here's to a year WITHOUT long covid! I've never heard of that pretzel tradition but would happily participate; I love pretzels! John and I were talking about how much we love sauerkraut and all the varieties we'd love to try. Nothing better on a hot dog or sausage! I even eat the stuff right out of the can. :) I'm glad you got some fresh air and got to chat with a friend!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Margaret! I have to say, those sausage & kraut sandwiches today really hit the spot--as did 1/4 of that pretzel donut, I'm saving the rest for coffee :^) Thanks very much for the good wishes and I'm very glad we're friends :^)
DeleteKielbasa and New Year's pretzels are new food traditions for me, although beloved daughter in law from Lancaster PA swears by roast pork and sauerkraut so somewhat similar. Down here in Virginia New Year's means Hoppin' John (black eyed peas/rice) and greens, or a variant for my family: Cuban black beans with pork and rice, also with cooked greens and both delicious. My New Years wish for you is that your long covid abandon you completely and immediately.
ReplyDeleteCeci
You're very kind, thank you Ceci. Your own food sounds delicious, but I sure could go for some pork roast! You're the second person who's mentioned that, I think I need to add this to my next shopping list. Anyway thank you again my friend and Happy New Year C. 🙂
DeleteDug, I'm another that has never heard of a New Year's pretzel... but it looks good and I'm sure would be good with coffee. Here we had a pork roast, black-eyed peas (cooked with a hunk of ham and bacon), and southern fried cabbage with lots of caramelized onions, garlic, and bacon. And of course our annual home-made eggnog (with a little nutmeg and bourbon)!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got out, but falling on your butt twice is not good. I know you aren't as old as us, but slipping/falling is not good. All you need when dealing with long covid is to break something and further complicate your life. That said, here's hoping for a healthy happy safe 2026!
Thanks very much Rian and your meal sounded delicious I am ready to move in! I appreciate what you said about the falling, it is no laughing matter and did scare me. I've seen firsthand the injuries from older people who have fallen and I know I'm getting up there. It's also the last thing I need right now. Thanks again for the good wishes and I very much hope we both have a healthy, happy New Year. I sure am glad we're friends. 🙂
DeleteHappy New Year Doug! I do hope this is the year that you get permanent relief from long Covid. Do be careful walking in the snow and ice. I fell last winter and now I walk like an old person, creeping along.
ReplyDeleteThe pretzel must be a regional thing. I'm not even certain any place here sells fresh pretzels. Just bags of salted ones by some chip company.
Mom used to make a ham on New Year 'a day but I think that was because we were all sick of turkey. The only tradition we had was watching the Rose Bowl parade. :)
Happy New Year Maebeme! Thanks for your kind wishes & I'm so sorry to read you had a bad fall last winter, the older I get the more I fear that happening. It seems like more & more people I know are having to use walkers, get hips replaced even. Well, I enjoyed my kielbassa but I'd take ham over that any day. I just realized, I can't remember the last time I saw the Rose Bowl Parade...
DeleteHappy New Year Doug! Your meal sounds wonderful. And your story about running into Mary reminds us of the importance of human connection. Here's hoping 2026 is a kinder and gentler year for all of us.
ReplyDeleteCarole
Carole, you are very kind! Thanks so much my friend, Happy New Year! :^)
DeleteI always look forward to these interesting missives of yours, Doug. I am praying hard that this year you will put that dreaded disease behind you for good.
ReplyDeleteThank you DJan, your good wishes are much appreciated, my friend. I hope you had a nice holiday.
DeleteHi, ich bin Hilla aus Deutschland. Neeujahrsbrezel sind hier eine grosse Tradition. Sie sind aus normalem Teig, wie Brezel geformt, und mit Zuckerguss überzogen. Total lecker! Im übrigen mag ich Ihren Blog sehr!
ReplyDeleteVielen Dank, Hilla, und ein frohes neues Jahr!
DeleteHappy New Year, Doug. Wishing you a really good 2026. Good health, good friends, good times.
ReplyDeleteThank you and Happy -and- Healthy New Year dkzody 🙂
DeleteMy mom used to make a pork roast with sauerkraut every New Year’s Day. I got kielbasa and sauerkraut yesterday in memory of my mom and good luck..I have not heard of the pretzel before but it looks good..kinda like king cake
ReplyDeleteBeth
Thanks for sharing Beth, Happy New Year. You're right about the giant pretzel, it's very much like king cake, minus the colors of course 🙂
DeleteHappy New Year to you too!
DeleteI never heard of a New Year Pretzel, but I know all about pork and sauerkraut. I was reading you those two years ago. That is a long struggle, but it makes me happy that you are still optimistic. If we lose hope, we are lost. On a personal level and on a national level too.
ReplyDeleteI am baking bread today. Perhaps I will save a bit of dough to make a pretzel!
Thanks Debby, I appreciate you hanging in there with me on my blog since this began. I really thought it was mostly over with this past summer, all I can do is hope I get there again. I just finished my sweet pretzel, I miss it already. :^)
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