Peas n' Carrots
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"Me and Jenny, we go together like peas n' carrots". Forrest Gump was right in using this analogy; peas and carrots have always been the Bert and Ernie of vegetables. What may have started off as a sad TV dinner side dish gets a fresh boost here. This JESScipe was yet another happy accident. It was the end of another long day, and I recall feeling famished. I made the mistake years ago of not serving the same dinner to my family, and so I've been stuck in the terrible habit of making multiple supper options every night. What started off as me wanting to be as accommodating as possible, morphed into a long list of picky eating habits and unreasonable meal expectations by my family. This is a tough one in the mom department. I never wanted my kids to be hungry or unsatisfied at dinner, so I initially happily cooked a few things to please everyone. It's so frustrating to be starving at the end of a long school day, and be met with a dinner that you find unappealing. It's a real letdown. I remember the feeling, and hated being told "too bad, this is dinner". So I just made a couple options to suit every family member. Big mistake. I would have done them a real service had they had to adapt to what was being served. Their palettes would have been forced to expand, their familiarity with more types of foods would have naturally emerged. Their trips to restaurants would be more enjoyable. Menus would be more exciting. I could avoid the shame in ordering "plain pasta" wherever we go (no butter, no oil 🙄).
Mostly, I love to cook, and it's a joy to see myfamily enjoy what I make, some of which is very time consuming. By trying to avoid them frustrated, I feel that way!! It's upsetting to feel like a short order cook in a diner, but truth be told, I acted that way and set that tone. I start every day by coming up with four different dinners, and I'm instantly irritated. It's difficult to think of one meal every day, let alone several. It gets annoying real fast, and I resent it, which is a shame since the kitchen is my happy place. Kudos to all you moms teaching your family to eat the same thing, for the most part.
Bottom line, after working in the diner one evening, I had the nerve to be hungry too, but was too tired to make something legit. I had diced carrots and fresh peas in the fridge, but was too exhausted to stand and sauté them in a wok for just five minutes. I couldn't muster up the will, and I was about to turn to cannibalism (that seemed most convenient, as I was watching tv with my kids). I peeled myself off the couch, dumped the veggies in an aluminum pan, sprinkled some stuff on them, and shoved them in the oven. Voila, a satisfying, hot, vegetarian dinner. This is clearly a side, but that night it was my main, and I gobbled it up. I've since made it many times as both, and it's yummy. This dish is super retro, it's so old school that it's now cool again. I have never been to a meal where peas and carrots has ever been served, so Lady Blaga is bringing it back,yo 🙌🏻.
Ingredients
- 2 cups peas
- 2 cups carrots
- 2 cups onion
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Fresh lemon
Directions
This is it; preheat oven to 400. Put 2 cups each fresh peas, diced carrots, and optional diced white onions in a tin. Use 6 cups diced veggies total. A third cup olive oil, one and a quarter tsp kosher salt, half a tsp finely ground black pepper. One tsp cumin, and half a tsp garlic powder. Mix well and cook for about twenty minutes, until vegetables are caramelized and fork tender. If not ready yet, raise oven to 415 and leave in for another ten minutes. I love fresh lemon 🍋 on everything, so I squeeze half of one over it right before I eat. This dish can also serve as a base for under a protein; pre plate it under a piece of fresh fish or sliced grilled chicken. Super easy and delish, and not illegal or terrible like eating your kids. Lady Blaga and vegetables go together like peas n' carrots. Eat your veggies, kids. 💛💚💙, LB
