Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A Flashback to My Nan and Pop......Pea Soup and Dumplings






THE DAY Of PEA SOUP
(or was it ham sandwiches)
Out the window in the morning

It is a beautiful sunny day, I am thinking of times spent visiting Nan and Pop...it was often days like this.  Both Nan and Pop loved to cook and both did it as a profession.  Nan a cook on a fishing boat; Pop in a logging camp.  Each of them had their dishes that they made, if we had Turkey Soup Nan was the cook, if it was Corned Beef Patties Pop was the cook of the day.  Each visit brought with it the wonder of what delicious meal would be prepared and who would we find standing in the kitchen.  My thoughts bring me to memories of warm creamy bowls of Pea Soup with Dumplings..or Doughboys as my Pop called them, Pop would also love to crush up Purity Hard bread to sprinkle on top (this was my favorite).
Nan &Pop

So now to make this warm, yummy, creaming memory to share with my family.

Ingredients:
The cookbook "The Treasury of Newfoundland Dishes" was passed down to me from my Nan, its all taped up and old, scribbled in, and cut out recipes taped inside and I love it!


Soup:
A piece of salt beef or ham bone
1 package dried split peas
2-3 Carrots
1 small turnip
1 onion
2-3 medium potato


Soak a piece of salt beef or a ham bone overnight.  Soak dried peas overnight as well. In the morning cook both together in fresh water.  Add chopped carrots, turnips and onions.  Boil together. 20 min before serving add potatoes.  Serve with dumplings/ hard bread.

Dumplings:


1 1/2 c. Flour
1/4 c. Butter
3 tsp. Baking Powder1 tsp salt1/2-3/4 c. water or 1/2-3/4 c. milk


Mix together and drop small balls into simmering soup. Wait for dumplings to float.

It was at this point that I didn't pay close attention....and well as pea soup tends to do if not watched attentively it burned on the bottom.  So even though the pictures show a yummy soup...it was actually rather gross..burnt peas... YUM...so we all sat down to a meal of ham sandwiches and juice. Dad, child and one very disappointed mom!