Creamed Peas on Toast

I've still been sick.  Getting tired of it!  It's hard to think of good, easy meals that I feel like eating.  Today, I thought of a childhood favourite, creamed peas on toast.  I have made it once as an adult, the way I knew how.  A can of mushy peas heated with some flour to make a sauce.  With some things, you can't go back.  Mainly because what may of tasted great as a kid may not be so good when you're grown up.  Once when I was on a liquid diet for a stomach problem, I pureed a can of peas and it was the best thing I ever consumed!  Of course, hunger was a great seasoning when you have gone days on just clear liquids, lol!

I decided to shake it up a bit.  Of course, I used homemade rustic soaked brown bread for the toast instead of the "classic" white toast.  Adds a lot of body.  But the creamed peas, mmmm!  Today, they stole the show :)

This goes together really fast.  It is something that is good even without the toast!  It is too bad I cannot find my camera is it was a lovely meal in taste and sight :)

Creamed Peas on Toast

3 cups of peas (I used frozen but fresh would be good too!)
1 cup of milk (or more if you like a lot of sauce)
1/3-1/2 cup cream cheese (depending on how rich you want it)
1/2 cup chopped onion (red, spanish or sweet)
1 tsp arrowroot powder (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Put peas and milk in a pot and bring to just below the boiling point.  Turn down the heat and add the cream cheese and onion.  Stir until melted and let simmer for a few minutes.  If there is a lot of liquid, add the arrowroot powder to make a thick creamy sauce.  Season to taste.  Serve ladled on slices of toasted bread.

Note, if you do not like a strong onion flavor, you could either omit the onions or you could sautee them in butter before adding the other ingredients.  I love raw onions and in ours they were just slightly cooked.

Not Keeping Up

I was hoping to post a recipe each day this week and while I have one, I didn't have the motivation to write. I have a pile of things backed up and I need to write them. Otherwise I will probably forget what I made and not make them again, lol!

Part of the reason is I take crappy pictures. I live somewhere that is gloomy most of the time, foggy and our apartment is dark. Flash pictures don't always come out the greatest and it's usually dark by the time we eat our evening meal (not outside but just how our apartment is situated and how it receives the sun).

So I will share a simple recipe that needs no picture because everyone has probably seen this before. The kids loved it, Mark and I loved it, simple, nourishing and so satisfying! It can be scaled up or down depending on your needs.

French Toast

2-4 pastured eggs

1/4 cup of cream

2 tsp organic cane sugar

8-10 slices of homemade soaked flour bread

1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1/4 tsp nutmeg or cloves (optional)

butter for frying and serving

maple syrup for serving

Heat up your frying pan to medium heat. Beat the eggs, cream, sugar and spices until well mixed. Either dip or soak the slices of bread (depending on your preference). Lightly grease the frying pan with a quick pass of butter and lay slices of battered bread in pan. When golden brown, turn over and cook until done through. Repeat for remaining bread. Serve with butter and maple syrup. Yum!

This is a good quick meal that most people generally have the ingredients for on hand. When I made it for the kids one night, I only managed to get one slice because they gobbled it right down. It's nice to have some quick ideas on hand because everyone has those nights where everything is rushed, there is nothing prepared, no meat thawed, no time, ect...