**** UPDATE 8/2/2011 Check out local food blog friend, Amy, and her post yesterday that just happened to be about purple hull peas, too! Ironic! She picked her PHP’s up from the farmstand in Johnson (by the train tracks). I also forgot to let you know that the PHPs that I purchased cost $3 for the bunch. ~Lyndi ****
My friend Molly from Monroe went on and on and on and on one day glowing-gloriously about purple hull peas. Purple hull peas? What the heck was that? I had never heard of them, never tasted them, and to be honest, never had seen them for sale anywhere I usually shopped.
Now, I’m a Southern gal, born and raised in North Carolina and surely they had purple hull peas, but seriously, never ever had I come across these curiously named peas. And seeing that my parents are from New Jersey, this was just not something on their grocery radar.
Because of Molly, I’ve been on the lookout.
I found some!
At the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market…. Because… IT’S PURPLE HULL PEA SEASON!
Ta da!
Here are a few tips to get you started in your very own (potential) love affair with purple hull peas.
Who knows?
You may one day glow-gloriously about them, yourself!
Purple Hull Peas 101:
- Shuck the pea pods (be honest, it just feels good to say that).
- Add salt, pepper, a tablespoon of butter and seasoning. I used Weber’s Kickin’ Chicken (yeah, I know, this isn’t chicken but it’s my kitchen, I can do what I want!).
- Keep boiling water, tasting peas along the way. The end result is tastefully seasoned liquid that is cradling your perfectly prepared purple hull peas. Mine took a good thirty minutes on the stove at medium-high heat.
Simple, right?
And there you have it. You have mastered purple hull peas 101.
This post is dedicated to Beth… in honor of her very sweet purple hull pea memories of her dear grandmother… which inspired me to prepare, eat, and post this today!
Thanks Beth!
Okay everyone; since purple hull peas are such a sweet reminder of days gone by, do any of you have any stories of your own to share?
Tell, tell!
Lyndi
Eat well, my friends. Eat well.
Oh Lyndi! These look so yummy. I am inspired to make some. Thanks for the post dedication. I feel like I'm friends with a celebrity – you know like Barefoot Contessa or NWAFOODIE!
Oh Beth! I'm glad you approve! I'm so glad I met you… even though it's only be about a week since we've officially met… I feel like we've known each other forever now!
Barefood Contessa? Oh come on now. 🙂
Lyndi
Ohhhh! Cool! Being a yankee I've never seen these before! I need to make a trip to the Farmer's Market so desperately but I haven't been home in so many weekends now. Next weekend, hopefully! The Boy is convinced that pickins will be slim due to the drought.
Yes, Kim…. do it!!!! Yeah, it's a poor season for so many… bit don't worry… there is plenty available at the farmer's market!
Lyndi