I just started this tradition a couple years ago. My parents were from Nebraska and Iowa and I guess they did not do this. I used the 16 bean soup that you buy in the dried bean section (yes, it has black-eyed peas). I grabbed the ham bone from Christmas and put that in to cook, then removed it and put in diced ham to finish off. I also made corn bread and coleslaw. My oldest son came over and we both enjoyed it.