Annual Creamed Peas and Potatoes Party!

Well I know it's catfish-spawning time because my peas are ready to pick.  Let me explain the connection.  Dad used to catch catfish by hand in Bear Creek.  They call it 'noodling' today and there is even a reality show on TV about some Hillbilly people who have a contest to see who can bring in the biggest fish by hand.  When we were very young, my sister, brother and I danced along the banks of the creek while dad would dive down and blindly searched for nesting catfish.  Man were we ever excited when he came up sputtering water and wrestling a big wriggling fish--great fun!  Well now, for our mother it was a slightly different story.  She was 'deathly  afraid' of the water (she always said 'deathly afraid' so I'm guessing that means uber-scared).  So instead of jumping for joy at the sight of each capture, she sat at a respectable distance and feverishly shelled peas--nothing like a nice pail of peas to take the edge off the old nerves.  So, I know that if you want to catch a catfish by hand, now is the time to go because the peas are also ready to pick!

Mom always took those sweet, nervously-shelled peas home and cooked them with little potatoes and then creamed the whole pot.  I do the same now for my annual "creamed peas and potatoes" party.  All of the guests help shell the peas. (Side note: If you have ever raised peas, you know that those little raw, immature ones are like a mouth full of candy!)  Our menu for the event has been pretty consistent for a few years now--creamed peas and potatoes, homemade bread, summer salad (Romaine with red onion, strawberries, and poppy-seed dressing), old-fashioned ice-box dessert and the star of the show---------------------smoked turkey.  I bet you all thought I was going to say fried catfish didn't ya?

 Pea-shellers

Mom made this dessert a lot, so that is why it comes up at the pea party. 

Old-Fashioned Ice Box Dessert

1 Graham Cracker Store Bought Pie Crust

8 ounce package cream cheese softened

1 cup milk

4 oz package of lemon pudding

8 oz tub Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese till creamy. Add milk and blend well. Add pudding and beat 1 minute. Fold in half of the Cool Whip. Spread in the pie shell and chill.  Frost with remaining Cool Whip. 

We just love this way to "smoke" a turkey.  Everyone who has ever tried this (despite the bit of effort it requires) goes crazy for it. 

Smoked Turkey
10 to 12 pound turkey

½ cup salt

1 cup Morton tender quick

8 tablespoons liquid wood smoke flavoring

1 gallon water

Mix seasoning in water until dissolved. Place in a large plastic or stainless container; add turkey and additional water until turkey is covered.  Refrigerate in brine 24 hours. Remove & drain. Pat dry. Rub with oil. Place breast down on a rack or broiler pan, cover with foil. Bake at 300 6-7 hours, until done.  Serves 8. 

Just Our Dad

Things I Know How to do Because of Dad

Hey, Thanks Dad!

Bait a hook

Drive a John Deere tractor

Laugh at the humor in everyday things

Work hard

Play hard

Skin a cat fish

Ride a bike

Help a neighbor

Arm wrestle

Boo Mickey Mantle

Subtract
Play checkers

Spit shine a shoe

Tell the truth

Recognize a dead elm tree

Try something new

Appreciate birds

Tell a joke, laugh at a joke

Drink a beer with friends

Shoot a 22 rifle

Love dogs and kids

Drive a stick shift

Roller skate

Swim in a rock quarry

Play draw poker

Enjoy life