Week Four: How to Unzip a Pea

Photo tutorial this week, for those of you who have never shelled peas.  Start by holding the pea so that the curved end is up, as in the first picture.

If you apply pressure at the middle of this curve, the pod will pop open – you can hear it.

Once popped, slide your thumb towards you along this ‘zipper’ to open the pod,

and then you can use your thumb to pull out the peas.

Fresh shelled peas are great raw, right out of the shell, especially the smaller ones.  Your peas were picked the morning of your delivery, so it’s hard to find fresher ones!  If you cook them, just toss them in boiling water until their color brightens.

If you’re a Friday Bean, you’re also getting some snap peas.  Thursday Beans are getting broccoli.  Next week, that will switch.  The snaps are just starting to come in, and we didn’t have enough for everyone this week.

Full share have two pretty big bags of spinach, and smaller shares have a proportionate amount.  We realize it’s almost too much lettuce and spinach this week, but we needed to clear out an entire garden row to make room for pepper plants, so it’s a little heavy.  Save the single head lettuce (this week’s is Beleah Rose) to use after you’ve eaten the mixed lettuce, which has been cut from the plants and will not last as long. One of the cut lettuce varieties is called Speckled Trout, it’s an Amish heirloom.

You’ve got a sampler of new potatoes, which would be happy to share a bowl, once boiled, with the parsley in the herb bundle.

Thanks to everyone who’s returning the plastic bags and berry cartons!