Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 To: StBedes@list.via-caritas.org From: PBerry7053 Subject: Re: Cakes and religious food! In a message dated 11/03/02 FatherIan writes: > In the north of England when I was a boy we traditionally ate carlins (black > peas) with vinegar and pepper, Oh I remember those - and meat n tater pies which I lived off through my teenage years. They don't do them down here in the deep south. I once drove back from M/cr with 2-3 doz freezer packs of them in the boot. Not the same as in the chippies though (with gravy, of course and sometimes mushy peas) .. I gather Mcr may be cutting back to 2 universities BTW, downgrading to the level of places like Liverpool - and Oxford. God bless, Pete ------------------------------ From: "B. D. Colt" > (with gravy, of course and sometimes mushy peas) .. Will someone please explain "mushy peas"? I don't remember seeing or hearing about these till relatively recently--the last ten years or so. (I lose track of the years lately.) Barbara D. Colt, St John the Evangelist, San Francisco ------------------------------ From: "sally.mullock" Mushy peas are IMHO absolutely revolting! But that's not what you asked. They are marrowfat peas - great big things, boiled down until they become, well mushy. Ugh! Not a patch on lovely little garden peas. They are generally served over here along with the fish and chips, but in a styrfoam pot rather than the paper Love SallyM ------------------------------ From: Scott Knitter > Mushy peas are IMHO absolutely revolting! But have you tried Cheesy Peas? Or the convenient Squeezy Cheesy Peas? (Per the fake commercial on "Brilliant!"/"The Fast Show.") Now try new Strawberry Squeezy Cheesy Peas! Scott Knitter - East Lansing, Michigan USA ------------------------------ From: John Dornheim > Will someone please explain "mushy peas"? Hmm, I know about whirled peas but not mushy peas... John Dornheim ------------------------------ From: "Jeffry P. Barnes" > Hmm, I know about whirled peas but not mushy peas... Both whirled and mushy peas are devices used by children to convince their parents that they have eaten a sufficient numbers of the peas on their plate so as to make them eligible for eating dessert. The appropriate technique for whirling peas is to take your fork (spoons for the young) and spin it around in the pile of peas, causing peas to fly off in all directions. Some of these peas will lodge under other items and be concealed from view. The parent will think they have been eaten. This works best if the plate also contains items which at least one of the parents absolutely will not eat either. Any reasonably clever child can conceal at least thirty or forty peas under a pile of pickled beets, and still get dessert. Mushy peas. This food avoidance technique relies on the fact that adults cannot easily estimate how many peas there are in a disgusting mess of crushed veggies, and may be deluded into thinking that peas have been eaten which in reality were simply crushed. Use a fork for this, and assiduously smash the peas into the plate. The deceit works best if the child can occasionally be seen bringing a fork containing peas to his or her mouth. The adult may think they entered the mouth when in fact they were quickly lowered to the plate and mushed. And then of course there is the advanced strategy of "mushed and whirled peas". The gooey mess of peas is hidden under the chicken breast in the hope that the sophisticated parent will think they are eating at a very expensive restaurant where purees of various stuff are placed under the seared tuna as an upside down sauce. Works best in Irish restaurants on St. Patrick's Day when the presence of Green Gravy can be explained by a shrug and the words, "what did you expect?" Peace, Jeffry -- The Rev. Jeffry P. Barnes Cheyenne River Episcopal Mission Eagle Butte, SD 57625 ------------------------------ From: John Dornheim > Both whirled and mushy peas are devices used by children . . . . Whirled peas. It's a pun. ------------------------------ From: Rod/Hazel Peterson Fancy a few sweet peas? I eat my peas with honey I've done it all my life It makes the peas taste funny But it keeps them on the knife. Hazel ------------------------------ From: PBerry7053 In a message dated 13/03/02 00:57:37 GMT Standard Time, john19@unidial.com writes: > Will someone please explain "mushy peas"? Well, I can only explain from the consumer's point of view. They have the appearance of large-sized tinned peas that have been seriously over cooked, form a porridge-like mass that can be easily lifted on a fork and are a suspiciously un-pea colour of green. I think they are peas that have been preserved by heating and possibly sodium bicarbonate then re-heated before serving. Johnson said, those who admire sausages or the Law should never watch either being made: probably mushy peas belong in the same category :) Mushy peas are most definitely a Northern/North Midlands dish - and so a source of great nostalgia for me. Where I am now is farming country, so the diet is different .. http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/regional%20cooking/wiltshire.htm To find out why we are called 'Moonrakers'; that we have been keeping pigs for 4,000 yrs and a recipe for Lardy Cake - the thought of which sends every true-born Moonraker wobbly at the knees. (Definitely not for vegetarians!) God bless, Pete ------------------------------ From: PBerry7053 In a message dated 13/03/02 jeffry writes: > Both whirled and mushy peas are devices used by children . . . . Thanks for this Jeffrey .. sounds like the voice of experience (if only yours!) BUT startling archaeological-type evidence in the form of a dramatic un-retouched photograph (well, they look *quite* old) for the existence of objectively verifiable mushy peas can be found at: http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/regional%20cooking/british.htm under 'Yorkshire'. Part, as it happens, of a British regional cookbook at http://www.hwatson.force9.co.uk/cookbook/cookbook.htm And should anyone be even remotely interested the recipe for mushy peas is below. Basically, if you boil peas for two hours, they go mushy. SEE RECIPE: Mushy Peas And it's still Lent .. God bless, Pete