By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier

ofowler@thepccourier.com

English or green peas have a distinct sweet flavor whether they are fresh or frozen. There are a number of different delicious ways to prepare peas, but it’s important to remember that the key to success is in the quality of the pea.

If you can get fresh peas, make sure you know how fresh they are. The longer they’ve been picked and the bigger they are, the less flavor they will have.

Canned peas are not recommended for these recipes. They are inferior to frozen or fresh peas, as they’re full of sodium, are usually large, with tough skins, and are an unappealing color.

The key to optimum flavor for this week’s featured recipes is to buy baby peas in the freezer section and to be very careful not to overcook them. The cooked peas should be a bright green and should be slightly firm.