English Peas and Taters

Yep, I’m craving  new peas and potatoes. Buying my vegetables at the busy Farmer’s market is surely easier than gathering them from the garden. Much more expensive… but needs must. As I scraped and peeled plump red and white potatoes today I thought of how good they were going to taste, and of how much I used to enjoy ‘scrabbling’ under the vines to get those first new potatoes … back when we gardened a lot.

Their delicate skin slips off under your thumb as you rub away the clinging dirt…No need to pull up the entire plant, just run your fingers gently around in the loose dirt till you’ve found enough for a mess .What a beautiful red some of them are, and I love the creamy white cobblers…No wasteful peeling, just scrape the delicate skin away and use the paring knife’s tip on the ‘eyes’. Simmer in a little salted water for a few minutes then add the cup of English peas you’ve shelled out….Or use frozen ones..Taste for salt, because it is about impossible to salt them when they’re done..

A knob of butter keeps the ‘taters from boiling over, and adds a wonderful taste along with a touch of ‘gold’ to the broth….When almost tender I tip in some coffee creamer, and add milk mixed with a big spoonful of flour…Black pepper is sprinkled on top….then it’s
simmered till thickened and done….Ladle into bowls, and wait a bit for it to cool. Cornbread cooked crusty brown in the old iron skillet goes mighty good with this , and some ‘streak o lean’ bacon won’t hurt….Pour yourself a glass of iced tea outta that stoneware pitcher of Mammy’s,  and set down to some good eatin’…After you give thanks for the taters, of course !

Mama didn’t like English peas, but Daddy did, so we had a double row through the garden every Spring. They were planted with about 6 inches of space between the rows, and chicken manure was strewed up and down in the center space. When they started growing tall we stuck brushy clippings down for them to cling to, and the two rows kinda helped hold each other up. When they first started bearing there wasn’t enough for a mess for our big family, so Mama made dumplings on them. She’s would a done anything to please her handsome blue eyed husband..Douglas Matthew Winchester….R.I.P, Daddy