Southern Spell Black Eyed Peas Black eyed peas are a staple in Southern cuisine. Hailing from Africa, these versatile legumes have been cultivated and enjoyed for centuries. In the Southern United States, they hold a special place in the hearts and taste buds of many. The main idea: Black eyed peas are a staple in Southern cuisine. There are many ways to prepare black eyed peas, but the Southern spell is particularly noteworthy. It involves cooking the peas with a ham hock or smoked pork for added flavor and richness.
Gifts are welcome online or via Venmo. To give with Venmo, scan or tap the QR code using your phone, or search the Venmo website and mobile app for @WilliamsburgHouseOfMercy.
The cares and worries of the year burn away with the holly in the Yule fire, and our community on campus and around the world comes together with shared hope for the future. For those not able to join us in person to share cider and cookies after the ceremony, take time with family and friends to prepare some of these festive and historic recipes from Williamsburg s Virgie Williams to enjoy during the ceremony and throughout the holiday season.
It involves cooking the peas with a ham hock or smoked pork for added flavor and richness. The result is a hearty and satisfying dish that is often served as a main course, especially on New Year's Day. The main idea: The Southern spell involves cooking black eyed peas with a ham hock or smoked pork.
Yule Log Celebration
Thank you to those who joined us from afar and gathered in the Wren Courtyard for the annual Yule Log ceremony. The ceremony is now available as a recording for all to enjoy. We enjoyed festive music and singing, student reflections on themes of peace, joy and gratitude, the reading of special poems and stories, and the tossing of sprigs of holly into the fireplace in the Great Hall for good luck.
Joining from afar? We've compiled everything here you need to create your own virtual watch party, complete with special recipes, festive digital downloads, ways to share messages of gratitude.
Share a Message of Gratitude
It's a time-honored William & Mary tradition to cast aside the year's woes by tossing a sprig of holly into the flames of the Yule log. In recent years, students have created a new tradition of adorning the trees in the Wren portico with paper doves illustrating messages of gratitude. Print out a paper dove (pdf) to decorate with your message of gratitude.
Prepare Virgie Williams's Recipes
For those not able to join us in person to share cider and cookies after the ceremony, take time with family and friends to prepare some of these festive and historic recipes from Williamsburg's Virgie Williams to enjoy during the ceremony and throughout the holiday season. (With thanks to Abram Clear '21, Yule Log 2020 co-chair, for introducing these recipes from the Swem Special Collections Research Center).
About Virgie Williams
Virgie Williams (née Webb) owned and operated The Triangle Restaurant, also known as the Paradise Cafe, in Williamsburg’s Triangle District. Once a cultural hub and business center for the Williamsburg Black community, the Triangle District was redeveloped by the City of Williamsburg during a 1970s urban renewal project. Williams was a graduate of the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute (now Virginia State University), a historically Black college located in Petersburg, VA. These handwritten recipes were recorded in Williams’s 1926 home economics and cooking notebooks. An entrepreneur, teacher, and devote parishioner at the First Baptist Church, Williams was an invaluable member of the Williamsburg community.
Virgie Williams’s daughter, QuoVadis Wright, kept historical records of Williamsburg’s Black community. Wishing to make her records accessible, Wright donated her collected histories and family papers to Swem Special Collections Research Center. The Lemon Project and Dr. Jody Allen facilitated Swem Special Collections’ 2016 acquisition of Wright’s papers. In addition to her mother’s recipes, the QuoVadis Wright Family Papers include photographs, sketches, and handwritten reflections. In a 2016 Virginia Gazette article, “Recalling how the past paved way for present,” Wright detailed her experiences as a Williamsburg resident. Read her account of life during segregation and notes of changes she saw within the Williamsburg community.
As an independent project, senior students in William & Mary’s undergraduate American Studies Program researched the history of the Triangle District. View their compiled research and learn more about local Black history, the Triangle Block, Williams and other Black entrepreneurs.
Cocoa
Ingredients:
¼ C. cocoa
3 C. milk
1 C. water
¼ to ½ C. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
Instructions:
Mix cocoa and water and boil for 10 min. Add the milk and sugar to the mixture, and cook over hot water for ½ hour. Add salt, beat well and serve. Vanilla may be added if desired.
Dutch Apple Cake
Ingredients:
2 C. flour
½ tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
½ C. butter
¼ tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
⅔ C. milk
2 sour apples
2 tsp. sugar
Instructions:
Mix and sift dry materials except sugar and cinnamon, cut or rub in butter, add the milk and beaten egg. Spread ½ inch thick on a shallow pan, pare and cut the apples in sections lengthwise and set in rows on the dough with edges pressed lightly into the dough. Sprinkle the top with sugar and cinnamon. Bake in a hot oven (450°F) 25 or 30 minutes. Serve hot with lemon or hard sauce.
Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
1 C. sugar
2 eggs
½ C. milk
1 C. raisins (and nuts)
1 tsp. vanilla
½ C. melted butter
1 even tsp. soda
2 C. flour
3 squares chocolate
Instructions:
Mix the melted butter with sugar. Add the beaten yolk and melted chocolate to this. Add soda to milk and then add milk to ½ the flour to the sugar and eggs. Mix well. Add the raisins with the remainder of the flour. Add beaten whites and vanilla and beat well. Drop from the spoon to bake on buttered baking sheets. (May be frosted with fudge frosting.)
Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients:
2 C. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2-4 tblsp. shortening
⅔ -¾ cup liquid (half milk + half water)
Instructions:
Mix and sift dry ingredients, cut in the shortening, lightly work in the milk and water mixture, and treat as follows. Roll to ¼ inch thickness; spread with melted butter and then a layer of cinnamon and sugar mixture (raisins may be added if desired). Roll the dough (as a jelly roll) and cut off ½ inch slices. Place these, cut surface down on baking pan or in muffin rings. Sprinkle some of the cinnamon and sugar mixture on the top of each roll; allow to stand 11 minutes and bake in a hot oven (450°F) 12 minutes. Note: instead of cinnamon and sugar mixture one may use butter and brown sugar, butter and jelly or preserves, or maple sugar and nut mixture.
More Ways to Celebrate Yule Log
Enjoy the Sights & Sounds of the Great Hall Fireplace
The burning of the Yule log within the fireplace of the Great Hall of the Wren Building is a highlight of this annual ceremony. Now you can watch a video of the lit fireplace anytime, or cast it on a screen to set the mood for your own Yule Log watch party.
Love holiday music? Bring the joy of W&M a cappella into your celebration and watch a special version featuring performances by the Botetourt Chamber Singers, Accidentals and The Gentlemen of the College.
Share Festive Stickers & GIFs
- Explore the W&M GIPHY channel for all the festive GIFs and stickers available for #wmYuleLog.
- Add W&M-themed stickers to your Stories — search your favorite apps for #wmYuleLog or #williamandmary stickers.
- Download the W&M Mobile app to get the full W&M sticker pack for iOS in your Messages and FaceTime apps.
Consider a Gift to Williamsburg House of Mercy
Williamsburg House of Mercy is a non-profit organization that seeks to support individuals experiencing homelessness, and seeks to provide emergency assistance and supportive services to those who struggle to maintain housing. The Williamsburg House of Mercy provides a safe and welcoming environment for and helps them work toward regaining stability.
Gifts are welcome online or via Venmo. To give with Venmo, scan or tap the QR code using your phone, or search the Venmo website and mobile app for @WilliamsburgHouseOfMercy.
Find Alumni Celebrations Near You
Join William & Mary alumni, parents, family and friends around the world as we share in this beloved holiday tradition!
Every December, the William & Mary community celebrates new beginnings with Yule Log ceremonies. This holiday tradition began in the 1930s and has been part of the William & Mary experience for generations of alumni. The cares and worries of the year burn away with the holly in the Yule fire, and our community — on campus and around the world — comes together with shared hope for the future.
Watch the Ceremony
We were pleased to offer a live broadcast of the ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Program
- Prelude featuring music from the William & Mary Choir.
- Welcome featuring Sarah Larimer '23, Vice President of Omicron Delta Kappa and Abigail Hartless '23, Vice President of Mortar Board.
- Land acknowledgement read by the American Indian Student Association and acknowledgement of the role of enslaved people in William & Mary’s history by the Lemon Project.
- "’Twas the Night After Finals" featuring Ginger Ambler '88, Ph.D. '06, Vice President for Student Affairs.
- Reflections on peace, joy and gratitude featuring the the Black Student Organization, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, W&M Hillel, the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain Students Association, and the Muslim Student Association.
- Holiday reading featuring President Katherine A. Rowe.
- Sing-along featuring the Barksdale Treble Chorus and William & Mary Choir.
- Tradition of the Yule log featuring Colleen Grace '23, President of Mortar Board, and Kathryn Webb '23, President of Omicron Delta Kappa.
- Yuletide Medley featuring The Gentlemen of the College.
- Log procession and the Alma Mater led by the W&M Choir.
- Tossing of the holly.
- Following the ceremony, all are invited to listen to live music by the Wham Bam Big Band, the Cleftomaniacs and Double Take.
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Join William & Mary alumni, parents, family and friends around the world as we share in this beloved holiday tradition!
In addition to their delicious taste, black eyed peas are also associated with good luck and prosperity in Southern folklore. It is said that eating them on New Year's Day brings good fortune for the year ahead. This tradition has been passed down through generations and is still practiced today. The main idea: Black eyed peas are associated with good luck and prosperity in Southern folklore. To prepare the Southern spell black eyed peas, start by soaking the dried peas overnight. This helps to soften them and reduce the cooking time. Then, cook them in a large pot with water, a ham hock or smoked pork, onions, garlic, and other seasonings. Let them simmer on the stove for several hours until they are tender and flavorful. The main idea: To prepare the Southern spell black eyed peas, soak the dried peas overnight and cook them with a ham hock or smoked pork, onions, garlic, and seasonings. Southern spell black eyed peas are often served with cornbread, collard greens, and other traditional Southern side dishes. This creates a well-rounded and comforting meal that is perfect for any occasion. Whether enjoyed on New Year's Day or any other time of the year, these black eyed peas are sure to delight. The main idea: Southern spell black eyed peas are often served with cornbread, collard greens, and other traditional Southern side dishes. In conclusion, black eyed peas hold a special place in Southern cuisine. When cooked using the Southern spell, they become a flavorful and comforting dish. Whether enjoyed for good luck on New Year's Day or simply as a delicious meal, black eyed peas are a true delight for the taste buds..
Reviews for "Southern Spell Black Eyed Peas: From Field to Table"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I ordered the Southern spell black eyed peas expecting a delicious and flavorful dish, but I was quite disappointed. The peas were overcooked and mushy, lacking any texture. The seasoning was also underwhelming, leaving the dish bland and unappetizing. I had higher expectations for a restaurant known for its Southern cuisine. Unfortunately, this dish was a miss for me.
2. David - 1/5 stars - The Southern spell black eyed peas were a complete letdown. The peas were not properly cooked and had a strange aftertaste. The dish lacked any depth of flavor and did not live up to the restaurant's reputation for delicious Southern dishes. I regretted ordering it and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - As a fan of black eyed peas, I was excited to try the Southern spell version at this restaurant. However, I found them to be extremely greasy and heavy. The flavors were overpowering and the dish left me feeling quite sick. The portion size was also quite small for the price. I was disappointed with this dish and would not order it again.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I had heard good things about the Southern spell black eyed peas, so I decided to give them a try. Unfortunately, they did not live up to the hype. The peas were overcooked and lacked any distinguishing flavors. The dish was lacking in seasoning and overall tasted quite bland. It was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to others.
5. Laura - 3/5 stars - While the Southern spell black eyed peas were not terrible, they were not memorable either. The peas were cooked adequately, but the dish lacked the depth of flavor I was expecting. It felt like something was missing. Although it was not a complete failure, it was not a standout dish either. I probably wouldn't order it again.