We finally got some rain. The blueberry bushes are bursting with fruit and the blackeyed peas are growing like crazy. I spent last night and the night before shelling peas. Tonight, I will blanch and then freeze them. I am excited because this is the first time I have ever put up my own vegetables.
Last night, I made the most wonderful soup. My friend came to visit and she brought me some smoked deer hindquarter. I decided to put it in the crock pot with crowder peas, diced tomatoes, string beans, lentils, and black beans. For the liquid, I used homemade chicken stock. I put it on at six pm, and cooked it on low all night. This morning, I had rich, flavorful soup. It tastes heavenly. I brought some for lunch, and I have enough for lunch for the rest of the week, and maybe a supper or two. I know most people cannot handle the same meal that often. If you have a family, you can think of it as seven to eight servings, so depending on your family, it is probably only one or two meals. I plan to eat it with a few crackers.
