Spring Pea Salad

SPRING PEA SALAD

To me spring is: seeing the earth come alive and produce a rainbow of blooms, baby chicks and ducks, fresh lettuce, peas, and onions from the garden, the first sign of a robin and birds chirping as they busily build nests, frogs poking their noses out of the water for the first time while froggie eggs float in the pond, along with weather that goes crazy- sunny and warm one day only for the next day to have freezing rain and frost. Ah yes, springtime (my favorite time of the year) bursts forth after a cold barren winter bringing lots of life, activity, and color.

Just as each person has their favorite color so we tend to have different tastes depending on the area we grew up in, our family’s history of favorite foods, and what we were raised with.  For some reason a lot of people hate peas, especially children. Even though I introduced peas to them as youngsters, both of my two adult children still turn their noses up whenever peas are mentioned. It’s a mystery to me as I love peas.  Peas are very healthy providing nearly one third of the daily recommended allowance for fiber, vitamin A that fights wrinkles, vitamin C, and vitamin K-1, which helps fight dark circles along with a host of anti-aging compounds including omega-3. As if that wasn’t enough research links peas to nutrients that lowers stomach cancer as well as being good for heartburn and neutralizing stomach acids. So you had a wise mother if she prepared and told you to eat your peas.

My Spring Pea Salad is a dish that will evoke images of spring no matter time of the year you make it. The Spring Pea Salad will add color and texture to your menu and fits with about any other food group.  Best of all the Spring Pea Salad is quick and easy to prepare and can be made up ahead of time.  This recipe serves six.

SPRING PEA SALAD

1 (16 oz) bag of frozen peas

4 slices of bacon or ½ c of bacon bits

1 small diced onion or 2 tb of dried onions

1 c shredded cheddar cheese

2 hard boiled eggs chopped

1 c mayonnaise

½ c Ranch dressing

Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium-sized bowl combine together the peas, bacon, onion, cheese, and eggs.  Sprinkle salt and pepper. Add mayonnaise and Ranch dressing mixing all the ingredients together. Let sit for about ten minutes and then serve!

Tip: If one absolutely hates fresh or frozen peas you can substitute the frozen peas with two cans of peas, although the salad won’t be as colorful!