Why I grow peas

In a lot of ways, peas are a lot of trouble:  

First, they need a support trellis to do well.  There are varieties that say "BUSH", but don't believe it.  All peas like support.

  

Secondly, they are a very early vegetable, so you have to get out early (I'm talking February) and get the ground ready to plant. Everything was so wet this year, that is was well into March before I got peas planted, but once they got started, they have thrived. Plus they only do well when the weather is cool, so they have a short season.

Third, they require shelling.

and it takes a lot of pea pods to make a bowl of shelled peas.

But on the plus side, there are things that we only get to enjoy for a short time once a year.  One of our family favorites is creamed potatoes, carrots, and peas. Here's a nice easy recipe:

1:  Chop about two cups of new potatoes into bite sized chunks.  Usually we have new potatoes that we can dig and we don't even have to chop them because they are just right about the time the peas are ready.

2. Chop about two cups of baby carrots into bite sized chunks.  If you have little carrots in the garden, they are best.

I boil the potatoes and carrots with a little bit of salt until both are soft.

3.  While the potatoes and carrots are boiling, make a roue:

Melt about 1/3 cup butter

Stir in about 1/3 cup flour

Stir in about a cup of milk until it is smooth.  Then cook until it has a gravy consistency and add salt and pepper to taste.

Pour cooked potatoes and carrots, and raw peas into the hot roue, and cook just until peas are bright green.

Even picky non vegetable eaters seem to like this, and I look forward to making it every year.