Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th. If you have this phobia, you may stay home on this day, stay away from ladders and black cats, and you may try really hard not to break a mirror. If anything bad happens to you on this day, you may always associate bad luck with this day.
Many cities do not have a 13th street or avenue and many buildings do not have a 13th floor. Legend has it that if 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. Some people that were not so lucky on Friday the 13th include Al Capone, who was sentenced to prison on a Friday the 13th, Tupac Shakur, who was shot and killed on a Friday the 13th and Hubert Humphrey, the 38th Vice President of the United States who died on a Friday the 13th.
I have never been a superstitious person but I have a friend that lives by all these legends. One day I decided to show her my new umbrella, which she was okay with......until I pushed the button and made the umbrella open up. When I put the umbrella over my head, while indoors, I thought she was going to have a heart attack. While she was trying to recover from my silly antics, I explained to her that I was not scared of having bad luck. I figure if it was not for bad luck, I would have no luck at all.
So on this Friday the 13th, pack around your rabbit's foot and be sure to walk around any ladders that you may encounter. I cannot remember the last time I came in contact with a ladder, but I do know that I still have a few years left on the last mirror that I broke.
Here are some recipes that feature lucky foods to ward off your Friday the 13th concerns.
RED GRAPES AND FETA SALAD
•2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
•1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
•1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
•1 pound red seedless grapes, halved (about 3 cups)
•5 ounces mixed salad greens (about 7 cups)
•6 ounces crumbled feta cheese
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add grapes, greens and feta and toss well.
COLLARD GREENS WITH RICE
•2 c vegetable broth
•1 c white rice
•1 T Margarine
•1/2 t salt
•1/4 t red pepper flakes
•2 c collard greens, rinsed and chopped
•pepper, to taste
•cayenne pepper (optional)
In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the rice, margarine, salt and red pepper flakes. Add the collard greens and bring to a slow simmer. Cover and allow to cook until rice is soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a dash of black pepper and more salt and red pepper flakes to taste. For a spicier dish, mix in a 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper before serving.
SWEET AND SPICY PORK
•1 lb pork tenderloin, cubed
•1 T olive oil
•Salt and pepper to taste
•1/2 t ground cinnamon
•1 c butternut squash, cubed
•1 onion, chopped
•1/2 t ground cloves
•1/4 t ground mace
•2 tart apples - peeled, cored and chopped
•1 c dried cranberries
•2 T brown sugar
•1/2 c apple juice
•1/2 c chopped walnuts, toasted
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork and sauté until lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove pork from skillet and set aside. To same skillet add squash and sauté for 4 minutes. Add additional oil if needed. Stir in onion and sauté until soft. Stir in the cloves, mace, apples, cranberries and brown sugar. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the apple juice, reduce heat and simmer until apples are tender. Stir in reserved pork and cook for about 5 more minutes. Add chopped walnuts just before serving.
NEXT WEEK— The Big 21.
Remember......Life is short. Eat Dessert first!!
I think I "misty-fy" that pork recipe, i just hope it's the pork that makes the dish lucky and not all those other interesting and wonderful sounding ingredients!
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