Peas Please! Pea Salad and a Food Storage Giveaway

This post has so many different purposes. First I want to reveiw the Freeze dried peas I received from The Ready Store. Second, I want to give you a recipe for  a yummy pea salad and Finally, I want to give away some of the amazing bounty from The Ready Store. They gave me so much and I feel the need to share.

I love fresh peas. So much so, that I have issues with canned peas. In fact, I have issues with a lot of canned veggies. I stock up on frozen peas (they are a staple in so many recipes) but I like to have a backup plan for when the power goes out or other emergencies (like I forgot to buy peas on the last shopping trip). This is a pantry/food storage cooking blog after all. And in Southern Utah we have a lot of power outages. I don't know why. We just do. So, I try to keep a couple cans of canned peas in my food storage. But frankly, I just can't bring myself to eat them. Enter the big #10 can of Saratoga Farms freeze dried peas from The Ready Store. Hmmm. Could these be the answer to my pea woes? 

These are the peas straight out of the can. Just add some water to these and let soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then drain. I prefer a longer soak time. These peas have a little crunchiness to them and a little extra soaking time helps get rid of the freeze dried tastse.

Wow, these look like real peas. And here is my review: They are sweet and flavorful but just a little chewy or crunchy sometimes. I may not eat them plain as a side dish but they are infinitely better than those mushy canned stuff and they are really tasty in the following creamy pea salad. I also think that they would work well in a soup or casserole.  The best part:: There are no additives or preservatives. One ingredient only. Peas

The info: Cost $19.95

Servings per container: 24

Shelf Life 30 years unopened (that is forever) or several weeks once opened.

Now give this tasty creamy pea salad a try with any peas (except canned)

I used the rehydrated freeze dried peas and it turned out pretty tasty.

Adapted from a recipe by Camille Schank

This recipe can easily be halved

20 oz of frozen peas, defrosted  or 3 cups fresh or rehydrated freeze dried peas

1/4 Cup green onions, chopped

8 slices of bacon, chopped

1/4 Cup mayo

1/4 cup Sour Cream or plain yogurt ( I used greek yogurt because that is what I had)

2 TB parsley or 2 Tsp parsley flakes

salt and pepper to taste

dillweed to taste

Mix mayo, yogurt or sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper and dillweed. Combine with remaining ingredients: peas, onions and bacon. Chill for at least 1/2 hour.

The Give-Away 

 The Ready Store sent me a full box of goodies and I want to share some of the goodies with my readers. I am keeping a few of the items including the wind up rechargeable flashlight/FM/Am radio/Siren/cell phone charger. What an awesome idea. This will be perfect for our 72 hour kits.

It is a double whammy prize: 

I already have lots of dried apple chips in my food storage. They are one of my family's favorite snacks. So, I am giving away a #10 can of freeze dried cinnamon apple chips from The Ready Store. I am also giving away one of their emergency kit portable canisters. I already have something similar in each of my cars and I think they are a handy space saving emergency kit that can be tossed in cars or a backpack for a day hike.

Each portable kit includes

1) 32 oz Water Bottle
Warmth & Shelter (4 Pieces):
(1) Emergency Blanket
(1) Emergency Poncho
(2) 8-Hour Handwarmers
Light & Communication (2 Pieces):
(1) 12-Hour Lightstick
(1) Mini LED Flashlight with Batteries
Emergency Tools (2 Pieces):
(1) 5-in-1 Survival Aid with Compass
(1) 12-Function Swiss Style Knife
First Aid (1 Piece):
(1) 12pc First-Aid Kit

Here is how you win. Please make a comment at the bottom of this post on what you want to stock up on in your pantry this month, whether it is Nutella or turkey gravy, I am interested to know what people want in their food storage. Please leave some way to email you either through a link to your contact info or with your email address, The contest starts April 12 and ends on April 19th. Due to shipping costs, I need to limit this contest to residents in the United States. The winner will be randomly chosen on April 19th.

Good Luck!.