Southern Style! Fresh Lady Cream Peas

Lady Cream peas are a humble variety of field peas, as they are known for here in the south.  They come in many names, such as zipper, crowder, cream, pink eye, or black eye.  Lady peas are a Southern favorite. 

Lady Cream Peas

The distinguishing factor of lady cream peas is their delicate size and sweet, creamy flavor. Be sure to grab fresh lady cream peas at local farmers' markets during their short growing season in the summer months.   

Growing up in North East Texas, my Mother knew several truck farmers who grew different kinds of peas in the summer.  

During pea season, my sisters and I would gather in the living room with paper bags for the shells and big bowls for the peas and shell peas as we watched soap operas (yes, I used to watch soap operas (whisper) and while we sat with fans blowing on us.

It's funny, back then we didn't have air conditioning and we didn't seem to be bothered by the hot summers as much as we do today.

Wonder why?

I remember that we would even go and sit in metal lawn chairs under our big shade tree in the backyard, visit with each other, and shell peas. 

Oh, the memories of those days are flooding in.

By the time a bushel or two were shelled, Mother would have the first pot of Lady Cream Peas (sometimes called Zipper Cream Peas) already cooked and waiting for us to eat, accompanied by some hot water cornbread, and maybe a slice or two of homegrown tomatoes and onions.

We often put Chow Chow relish on our peas. It is made from cabbage, onion, green peppers, green tomatoes, vinegar, and pickling spices and has a sweet and sour flavor. Good but hard to find unless you know someone who cans their own.

Although I was raised on peas here in Texas, I am discovering that there are people out there who really do not know what a cream pea is.  

In fact, I have heard that some people only know these peas as feed for cows, and they have no clue about how to cook them.

You might say that Cream Peas, Purple Hull Peas, Black-Eyed Peas, etc., are a Southern cuisine that has been overlooked and needs to be exposed.

You can find these peas fresh at most farmers' markets in Texas, and now they are also available in the frozen section of your local Walmart stores.

My Mother's recipe is so simple, and is utterly delicious, and you can make it in no time.  

She lets the peas speak for themselves, but you'll want to make some delicious cornbread to soak up all that flavorful liquid that runs off the peas.

You can find the recipe for my Mother's delicious hot water cornbread here.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE?  TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR LADY CREAM PEAS

Below, under the next heading, I provide a list of preferred ingredients, tips, and cooking instructions for Lady Cream Peas, as well as similar recipe ideas you can try.

Or, you can scroll down to the bottom, where you will find a full printable recipe card with amounts of the ingredients and complete instructions with notes.

TIPS AND TIDBITS FOR THE BEST LADY CREAM PEAS

Cream.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE LADY CREAM PEAS

Stock Pot

Fresh cream peas

Salt pork

Salt 

Ground pepper

HOW TO PREPARE LADY CREAM PEAS

In a large Dutch oven, add the peas, salt pork, and water. Cook over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 hours, or until the peas are tender and soft.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

WHERE YOU MAY SEE THIS RECIPE

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