A splendiferous snack …

… and seasonal

Another childhood memory. We didn't have a huge garden but Mum would usually set peas. We would go and pick them – which was when my addiction to fresh peas began. I was banned from harvesting the crop because I never brought any indoors – I podded and ate as I went. There is truly nothing more delicious.

As a grown up and visiting Mum she'd forget my “passion for peas” - we'd sit at the kitchen table and she'd watch as I took the pod from the colander split it open and eat the contents, placing the empty pod on newspaper ready for the compost – perpetual motion – it took a few minutes before she realised she wasn't likely to finish up with any peas at all!

Moving on to present day I don't try and pretend any more. Thankfully, if you see what I mean, the season isn't a long one so to hell with it, I'll pod and eat peas to my heart's content and I don't care who knows it.

So much so that I purchased my first “hit” last week.

Think about the process – you pod, you release probably about six baby peas by however many pods in a consignment – it's hardly what you'd call over indulgence – how virtuous can you get – you could even stretch a point and call it a work-out!

Ahem – you want the health benefits – don't say I didn't warn you - how healthy can a person be – a shortened list – vitamin K, manganese, dietary fibre, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin C. I could go on but it's a long list.

Here's an idea – if you've children or grandchildren who are anti veggies or anti green buy a bag of peas, wash them and put them in an attractive bowl in the centre of your table, say nothing. As you pass the table, plunder a pod – demolish the contents and leave the empty pod by the bowl – repeat!

Just a little experiment.