Today was my first date with a newly bestowed Food Saver ™ (thanks mom). For someone who has a notorious reputation of breaking things before hardly getting them out of the box as well as not reading directions, I did alright on the somewhat challenging learning curve that exists for vacuum packing veggies…. it’s all in the seal.
This year’s pea patch had turned into a Visitor U-Pick of sorts, with the fiance’, little bro, and even box delivery person nonchalantly picking a crispy, green, next-to-the-driveway snack upon arrival or departure. Although one of the most popular places on the tiny property, it was time for the big pick. Several large bowls of peas and a Food Saver later, I’ve got some great little packages for the freezer. Take that Trader Joe’s.
To obtain final frozen package… I took the fresh peas, blanched them quickly in boiling water (aka let them swim around the pot for like a minute or just long enough to barely change the color, for more technical details, click here), shocked them in a big bowl of icy water to stop cooking, sealed them in the little make it yourself Food Saver bags, and popped them in the freezer for bite of summer on a much drearier day.
Sarah has so much food in such a small space that it is impressive. I think the nice Puyallup soils help too. It just goes to show you don’t need a lot of dirt to eat well. Even in less productive soil, like my rock garden type, I can still grow enough to feed a family and always have. (That would have been Sarah…who hurrplanted seeds as soon as she could walk.)Nice blog…way to go! Readers still have time to put in a winter batch of something, so hurry!
Comment # 1
Posted by Mom
Aug 20, 08:32 PM
Hi Sarah. I like the peas be with you piece. I have been growing the sugar snap peas and tossing them with my salad recently too. Its so great to have these little tidbits on hand…now if my tomatoes would only ripen to go with my salads!
I just learned from a vendor at the Tacoma Farmers Market that you can actually saute the greens that the peas grow on. “It has a sweet bok choy flavor” the woman told me. Just thought I’d pass that along to the crowd before they tossed all theirs in the compost bin:-)
Comment # 2
Posted by Laura Edwards
Aug 22, 07:46 AM
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