(No, today is not Friday, it is Sunday. Despite the post’s title, I am not posting this on a Friday, although that was my intention. From now on, I hope to post every Friday about one of our crops.)

(a look at our pea patch in 2009)

Peas are one of my favorite vegetables. However, while growing up, I never knew there were any other kinds of peas other than the ones that come in a can from the grocery store. Lucky for me, I learned that there are different kinds of peas, all delicious.

One of the other things I remember from childhood was my mother’s ongoing battle with my brother to get him to eat his peas. I never understood what he didn’t like about them but then he probably never understood why I don”t like onions. So I guess we’re even.

ABOUT: Peas are what is known as a cool weather crop. They love the cool spring weather and absolutely detest the warm summer weather. So we usually have peas for sale during the month of June, along with our strawberries.

Peas are a member of the legume family. There are three different types of peas:  garden peas (English peas), snap peas and snow peas. We grow two types of peas: snow peas and sugar snap peas. Snow peas have a flat edible pod and are picked when the seeds inside the pod are barely formed. Sugar snap peas have an edible round pod with small seeds inside.

VARIETIES WE GROW:

Sugar snap peas – Cascadia

Snow peas – Oregon Giant

FREEZING:

We froze several quarts of peas last year and it was well worth it come those cold winter days when you crave vegetables. The sugar snap peas seemed to freeze better for us. We tried the snow peas and the results were disappointing.

Instructions for freezing:

1. First, wash and trim the pea pods.
2. Set out a large bowl with either ice water or really cold tap water. This will be used to stop the cooking process before freezing the peas. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanching no more than one pound of peas at a time, drop peas into boiling water and immediately cover with a tight fitting lid. Leave the peas in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes.
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peas to the ice water bath and soak for approximately 5 minutes. If you are using tap water without ice, change the water several times to help cool the peas.
4. Remove from water and drain.
5. We use plastic quart freezer bags to store the peas. Fill the bag with peas and try to remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to one year at 32°F or below.
6. Both the blanching water and the ice water bath can be reused as you work your way through your vegetables.
   

RECIPES:

One of our favorite recipes is one I discovered last year. In fact, it was chosen by Rebekah as her birthday meal which tells you how much it is liked around here. Give it a try – Magicland Farms Chicken and Snow Pea Skillet. Although the recipe calls for snow peas, sugar snap peas work just as well.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

• Green peas are very low in calories – only 41 calories per cup.
• Green peas are rich in dietary fiber.
• Green peas slow down the appearance of glucose in the blood and thus, help keep the energy levels steady.
• Peas are a  good source of protein, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, phosphorus and copper.
• They are a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin and manganese.