i'm not a picky eater. when i go out to eat, i always have trouble with the menu because i want everything on it. there's not a lot of foods i won't try and very few i dislike.
peas happen to be one of those rare foods that just aren't my favorite.
but since they're in season now, and they're such a pretty shade of green (my favorite color!), i thought i'd give them another shot by making them into a spread.
here's what to do:
1. remove the peas from their shells
2. boil the peas for a minute or two until they're more vibrantly green (not pictured) and then dump them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
3. dump the peas into a food processor and add approximately 1/3 cup of cream cheese (or goat or feta), a sprinkle of salt, pepper, red pepper and garlic powder and a few squeezes of lemon juice. you may need to add a touch of olive oil to help move things along. blend until smooth.
4. empty into a serving bowl and serve with baguette slices, tortilla chips, pita. your call.
i have to say that i really enjoyed this. adding the cream cheese made it, um, creamier (duh) and took away some of that pea taste that isn't my favorite. and the lemon and red pepper added a brightness and kick that i found delicious.
oh. and i used the leftover pea shells for a side dish at dinner. just chopped them up a bit and sautéed them with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper.
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enjoy the produce this time of year. check out what's available at your local market and see what looks good. you might even surprise yourself like i did.
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looking for more seasonal eating recipes? check out the archives here.
