Baby, It's Cold Outside!

What a lovely, white and snowy looking flower!  It is so cold outside this morning it is hard to believe that yesterday it was in the seventies!  But, as is typical of this time of year, a cold front rolled in last night and dropped the temperatures into the thirties!  Yike!  That is such a shock to your system. 

Spring isn't far off though, and we will be planting sweet and savory things in our garden and enjoying the harvested goodies.

Today I want to talk about PEAS!  Particularly the sweet little green peas better known as English Peas.  First let me give you a little nutritional information about these little gems.

Nutritional Value
As a fresh vegetable source of protein, English peas are second only to lima beans. A three-fourths cup serving contains about 100 calories and more protein than a tablespoon of peanut butter or a whole egg, and less than one-half gram of fat. Pretty good news there, huh?

So now lets talk about some delicious ways to serve those nutritious little green treasures.

First here is a SIMPLE little salad you can serve any time..

 

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon (use 2 slices if you are trying to cut down on fats)
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed and drained
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar
• 2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (you may use GREEK yogurt in place of the mayo, just add a little salt)
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Let cool.

In a medium serving bowl, combine the bacon, peas, cheese, and eggs. Stir in the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Here is a nice side to serve with a Sunday Dinner...

Just remember not to overcook the peas!

Ingredients:

Servings:

4

Units: US

• 1 lb tiny peas
• 2 ounces butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint or 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• salt and pepper , to taste

Directions:

1. Cook peas in a small amount of boiling, salted water, until tender (if using frozen peas, follow package instructions).
2. Drain, and set aside.
3. In another saucepan, heat the butter, and add the peas, mint and sugar.
4. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, tossing to mix.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
    
    
   AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,  for those hummus lovers out there...here is a green pea hummus..
    
   1 lb frozen or fresh english peas

   3 garlic cloves (crushed)

   3 tbsps tahini

   1 lemon juice

   1 tsp ground cumin

   1 tbsp olive oil

   chili powder

   salt

   black pepper

    

   1	Add the peas to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes.
   2	Drain the peas and put in a food processor along with all the other ingredients; mix well until a paste is formed.
   3	Season with sea salt and black pepper according to taste.
   4	Serve the green pea hummus in a dipping bowl, form a small hole in the centre of the mixture and add a tablespoon of olive oil and lightly dust with chili powder.

    

   Amount Per Serving

   Calories 129

   Calories from Fat 54

   % Daily Value *

   Total Fat 6 g	9%
   Saturated Fat 864 mg	4%
   Trans Fat	0%
   Cholesterol	0%
   Sodium 735 mg	31%
   Total Carbohydrate 14 g	5%
   Dietary Fiber 5 g	20%
   Sugars 4 g

   Protein 5 g

   Vitamin A	31%
   Vitamin C 14 mg	24%
   Calcium 62 mg	6%
   Iron 3 mg	14%
   Potassium 180 mg	1%

   * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

    

   If you haven't tried hummus yet, this might be a great place for you to start!

    

   So get out there and get those peas today.  And, by the way, frozen peas are one of the few vegetables that are just about as good as fresh!  Eat up!

    

   God Bless - Peace, Love and Joy!