A little Project - Pea Shoots

As most of you regular readers are aware I am in my element if and when I can make something out nothing and more so if it is out of something I already have.  In this instance, it is something from my Pantry shelf, so a little different.

Predominantly for the winter months I keep in house dried marrowfat peas.  I make mushy peas, good solid English traditional food.   However at this time of year, I also grow in a planter, pea shoots for garnishing a home-made pea soup (the pea soup is made from frozen peas or indeed a different type of dried pea) [Ham and Pea soup comes to mind when using the dried pea.  However, before I make the soup we need to get the garnish growing.  In this instance we cannot put the cart before the horse!

To prepare your pea shoots, you will need:

Dried peas

A planter

Compost

Water

A sheet of glass or some clingfilm

Get a planter, make sure it has the drainage holes drilled out.  Add some material such as broken crocks in the base to also help with the drainage.  Add some compost into your chosen plante. Set the planter with the peas being spaced out at about an inch at most.  Cover with compost, water lightly. I then place some glass panels I have on the top until the peas shoot. However you can use clingfilm or polythene as long as the peas are protected.  

We have a Pigeon problem here and they are quite adept at helping themselves.  In the interim however, make sure that you keep checking on the peas until they do shoot to make sure they do not dry out.  Once they have grown up to about a foot, start snipping and add to your soup, or indeed to a salad.  There is a nice freshness to them.  You can always dry any that you do not use and grind down to add to soup or stew mixes in the winter months, or indeed blend it with other green powders so that you have a flavourful mixture to add to good winter cooking.  Another way of getting greens down a child who is not keen on veggies.   Also a good way of introducing littlies to gardening and a gentle start on teaching them where their food actually comes from.

If you are keen on using these regularly, then set another planter after three weeks to give another batch.  If you need more you can continue like this until the end of season.

I will be posting the pea recipe when the pea shoots are through in readiness for you planning your weekly menu and making use of them.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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