Going Green

     This is not to make a political statement, but Al Gore did not originate the idea of recycling. My mother was a champ at recycling, particularly in the kitchen, and she did not have any curb service to pick up her recyclables. Nor did she have anyone telling her to do this for the preservation of the earth. It was just the right thing to do. That "Greatest Generation" taught us all so many life lessons about economizing, commitment, honor, integrity. That list goes on and on. Every pickle jar, olive jar, mayonnaise jar got a second or third use. The glass jars go right into the dishwasher for thorough cleaning just like those Mason jars from Wal-Mart. Someone might need some soup or pimiento cheese or lemon curd if he/she is ill or just plain down-in-the-dumps, and you may be the very one to take some cheer his or her way. And the beauty of the gift is that no container has to be returned. My mother-in-law always uses a small glass jar to shake up her flour and water to thicken her gravy. I even store items in the refrigerator in glass because I can SEE what the item is (although I love my Tupperware, too - but that's another blog).
     Have you been to the Farmer's Market yet to buy your bag of peas? (See "It's Tradition" blog from July 16). For a mere $33 you can get 9 pounds of purple hull peas from Tammy, the pea lady (no wise cracks) at the Nashville Farmer's Market. Her cell is 615-642-9035. Scary, I know, that we are so close, but stay with me here. What to do with that bag of peas that weighs about what my babies did at birth... do not wash or blanch purple hulls... just rebag into 1 qt. bags... about 5 qt. bags worth from this one large bag. Freeze flat so that they will store nicely in freezer. When ready to eat, rinse peas and put into crockpot with ham bone. Cover peas with water. Cook all day. Serve with cornbread. That is about as easy as it gets, folks. NEVER throw out the last few spoonsful of peas... just baggie leftovers, label "SOUP," and refreeze. Whenever we get a break in the heat, we will all be making soup, and yours will be unmatchable in taste because you have ingredients stored away which cannot be bought at the store! Go Green. You can create sustainable solutions, too.