Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Braised peas with spring onions and lettuce

Yesterday was definitely not a day filled with festive cheer - for me, at any rate. I had a dental appointment that managed to last 2 hours, as the dentist filled a hideously deep crack in my tooth; it involved several injections and a lot of imagination to get past it. After the swelling came down, the pain kicked in and I have been battling with toothache ever since. I had forgotten how debilitating toothache is: it literally wore me down, so I just wanted to curl up in bed and lock out the world. I skipped lunch and by dinner time I was as hungry as I was achey, but couldn't face much, so I made fishcakes with mashed potato, flaked poached haddock, chopped parsley and cayenne, and I also made Jamie's braised peas with spring onion and lettuce. Oh and I felt sorry for myself - I suppose that goes without saying.

These peas are a variant of a classic French dish, which I have eaten quite a lot in the form of the French jarred peas you can buy over here (they are extraordinarily expensive in Tesco). I like them a lot but had never attempted to emulate them, mainly because it wasn't until last year that I realized that peas can be more than a rushed accompaniment (pea puree, made with basil and olive oil, taught me that) but also because I had never seen a recipe. It is so easy that you barely need one, which worked for me because I was achey, exhausted and crabby (the dentist, nice man that he is, has that effect). Anyway to make it, you simply heat butter and olive oil in a pan, add plain flour and stir, then pour in chicken or vegetable stock; turn up the heat, add chopped spring onions and lettuce with seasoning, and simmer with the lid on for 5 minutes until tender. Squeeze in lemon juice and serve drizzled with a splash of oil.


I should admit that my taste buds probably weren't at their peak but I really liked these peas. The stock/lemon juice combo is always a winner, and the lettuce and spring onion work so well. It is simple but delicious, which is what side dishes should be, probably. Even in my over-tired, under-tasting state, I found these peas very tasty indeed and I would certainly do them again.

Tonight, as an aside, I made a gingerbread house.
It was fun, trying not to be too tacky, though there is no place at Christmas for a tasteful gingerbread house. Meanwhile, fingers crossed that my toothache vanishes tomorrow and that I can eat crunchy food again, as soft, nursery food (we had risotto tonight, which was delicious, but still...) will begin to get on my nerves. Fingers crossed that my toothache dissipates anyway because it is tiresome to live with and at the moment I can't drink the usual cold water because it hurts - and tepid water really isn't very nice. Otherwise from tomorrow afternoon I have a pretty long holiday - which is kind of exciting. Watch this space as (tooth ache permitting), I cook up a storm!

5 comments:

Lady M said...

oh sweetie, feel better!! i've been there several times, trust me! sending soothing paracetemol hugs to you :) by the way, what do you mean you've never seen a recipe from Petit Pois a la Francaise. hello... Nigella Lawson!! LOL. in Feast and HTE. naughty girl ;)

xoxo
Ilana

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love your gingerbread house! The front door! It's like a magical ski chalet.
Feel better.

Freya said...

Hi Kathryn!
Those peas are delicious aren't they? I might serve them on Christmas Eve as I have a couple of little gems in the fridge going rapidly sad...
The gingerbread house is beautiful! Did you use one of those Ikea kits or make it from scratch? I've been tempted to make one but scared by the DIY (i.e. cutting out of templates) involved!
Freya

Anonymous said...

Ouch! Hope you're feeling better. I've not visited for a few days - you have been busy haven't you? I hope Simon is suitably appreciative. The lamb shank pie looks fab.

litlove said...

Ugghh toothache. The pits. Do you have one of those beany bags you can warm in the microwave? Only holding something warm against it can help. Failing that you need a lot of painkillers and a good video (worked at 1 in the morning with my son on the occasion of an abcess...). Do hope you feel better tomorrow, and the gingerbread house is amazing!