New peas and potatoes recipe

Just a great recipe for you, today - but you'll have to look in the comments section under the post for Recipe Ideas for Peas.
You will love it. New peas and potatoes is a hit and a perfect comfort food. Nice and creamy - and a great "harvest" meal.
What other pea recipes would you like me to share?

Peas in my Food Storage

Do you know the story of the ant and the grasshopper? I think of that story a lot these days and how I'm doing my best to be like the ant, diligently gathering a preparing for winter. I hope my feeble efforts are enough. Sometimes they seem very feeble.

We have been busy working on storing our peas these days. I won't tell you how many hours of movies we have watched just shelling the peas. I know it is a lot of work and I also have economist friends that tell me I'm wasting my time. It is more economical to buy them.

Well, I don't care. I agree it is a lot of work. I love teaching my children how to work and help and most importantly, how to enjoy eating fresh peas right from the pod. All of my kids (ages 3, 2, & 1) enjoy fresh peas.

I don't usually share pictures of my kids on this blog, but I really couldn't help myself this time. They were good helpers - they picked the fat pods off the plants, and then as we shelled them, they picked the peas out of the pods when I popped them open. Eventually, they figured out how to pop the pods open themselves.

This is what one of my freezer shelves looks like. 20 quart bags ready for winter.

Food Storage Crisis & Peas

Confession

I am living in "food storage crisis mode." Meaning, I am living off of my food storage as much as possible and don't buy much at the grocery store other than fresh fruits/vegetables and fresh dairy products. It happens to many, if you are prepared, things go a little easier.

Now What?

So, since I don't really have the resources to build much of a food storage, I at least am trying to maintain having at least one or two extra of the things I store. For example, small cans of fruit or vegetables that don't cost much, I try to maintain at least 5 extra on a good week (if I run out of what I have stored). For oils and things that last a little longer, I try to maintain at least one extra (or two if I find a good sale).

In the End

If you are also in crisis mode, I understand. I've been there lots. Hang in there and do what you can, and know you can confide in me, if you find you need someone who understands. Just do your best, and hopefully that will be enough.

p.s. I am freezing peas. I love frozen peas and our crop was a good one this year, so I am filling my freezer with as many peas as I can pick and shell. Does anyone else freeze or can (bottle) peas?

Recipe for freezing peas:
Pick peas
Shell peas
Wash peas
Boil water. Dump in peas. Cook for 3 minutes in boiling water. Remove from boiling water and immediately cool in cold water (in a sink?). Place peas in freezer safe ziploc bags. Squish air out of bags and seal. Write year on bags (for proper rotation purposes). Place bags in freezer. Done.

Easy. One tip: use strainers for cooking and cooling your peas. You will have less peas that try to escape.

Now I'm off to do my peas...