Le Sueur Canned Peas

Mock me if you want, but I eat canned peas or canned peas & carrots at least 4 times a week! I love them. Sometimes I add them to other food and sometimes I just heat them up, add some olive oil, and sprinkle on parmesan cheese.

I only buy the generic/store brand. I try to get the ones with no sodium added (otherwise it's like 400mg of sodium in 1 serving of vegetables!) but if they don't have that I rinse them thoroughly to wash away most of the salt.

I like canned, frozen and fresh peas. But I haven’t had canned peas since I was a child and my mother always got Del Monte.

This is precisely the type of thread that makes me love DL so much. I have a feeling it will extend into triple digits.

My mother's native cuisine never used canned vegetables until the '8Os or so, and even so only the city folk. I grew up in the late'60s and '70s. She thought anything and everything American (with the exception of medical care) was inherently inferior. Canned and frozen foods included. Of course, her use of fresh vegetables was limited to green beans, onions, and tomatoes with some occasional zucchini or eggplant. They were inevitably cooked to a state of near mush without any flavoring, except a little bit of garlic and paprika. (My dad had high BP and dentures. She claimed her horrific cooking was for his health, though he hated it and couldn't scarcely down her tough, overcooked meat).

Fast forward to the late '80s/early '90s -- she exclusively bought canned, and even smothered the overcooked meat in Campbell's Golden Cream of Mushroom (superior to plain mushroom, she said). Even more unpalatable.

[quote] "Mock me if you want..."

Absolutely not, R1. I know this is DL, but I didn't start this thread to mock anyone for their pea preferences. I'm just genuinely curious, because I love to discuss food (especially since I'm losing weight and not eating anything I want).

[quote] "Sometimes I add them to other food and sometimes I just heat them up, add some olive oil, and sprinkle on parmesan cheese."

I'm sure the salty parmesan plays nicely off the natural sweetness of the peas (though I think the sweet flavor is more pronounced in fresh and frozen). I like to add a bit of butter and lemon pepper seasoning to peas from time to time. And lower sodium canned foods are almost alwaysthe way to go.

We always ate Green Giant canned peas, and corn/creamed corn. I prefer frozen now.

[quote] "I like canned, frozen and fresh peas."

It's always good to be flexible...provided one doesn't expect the flavors to be exactly the same where canned varieties are concerned.

[quote] "But I haven’t had canned peas since I was a child and my mother always got Del Monte."

It's been that long for me as well, and my mother usually puchased Green Giant. But she WAS fond of Del Monte French Style green beans, and corn. Weird, I know. But she also purchased Mueller's elbow macaroni, but insisted on San Giorgio #8 Spaghetti. Looking at that now, it seems strange, but I never gave it a thought as a child.

I forgot to add my pea experience at r3. My mother once bought frozen Green Giant peas in butter in a vacuum package that just had to be dropped in boiling water. I think her friend suggested them. My father and I loved them all and we never saw them again.

Actually, if they still make them, I'm going to get a box this week and have them over steamed rice.

Why not just get frozen peas?

Tammy's recipe minus the corn and chicken instead of ham sounds pretty dang tastey, darlin'.

[quote] "We always ate Green Giant canned peas, and corn/creamed corn. I prefer frozen now."

I love creamed corn, R5. I really like to use it in baked corn pudding, and corn fritters. I haven't had either of those dishes in quite some time, however.

[quote] "They were inevitably cooked to a state of near mush without any flavoring,

That's a funny story, R3/R7. Years ago, a coworker said that she grew up hating peas because her mother not only used canned peas, but proceeded to boil them to death before serving. I'm not a fan of canned, but they certainly taste a hell of a lot better when they haven't had all the flavor and texture boiled out of them.

I think the cultural shift in your mother's cooking is also interesting, considering (and I don't know her culture and country of origin) that the frozen and canned foods industries exploded after WWII. So they had been around for a while by that time, though they may have not reached a lot of places for some time after.

[quote] "She claimed her horrific cooking was for his health, though he hated it and couldn't scarcely down her tough, overcooked meat)."

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, AND under-seasoned, overcooked meals, apparently. Do you think this was all something she began doing on her own, or did her mother and father treat food similarly?

Perhaps it was the reverse of the story I mentioned in this post, above (though I imagine that to be very unlikely)? Certainly, there are usually simple, logical explanations for these things, but I find it all very interesting.

[quote] "Fast forward to the late '80s/early '90s -- she exclusively bought canned, and even smothered the overcooked meat in Campbell's Golden Cream of Mushroom (superior to plain mushroom, she said). Even more unpalatable."

Bless her heart. This is funny as hell.

[quote] "My mother once bought frozen Green Giant peas in butter in a vacuum package that just had to be dropped in boiling water. I think her friend suggested them. My father and I loved them all and we never saw them again."

I never had the boil-in-bag peas, but I DID love the boil-in-bag turkey & gravy (and I say this as the son of a mother who was an excellent home cook). We typically had them with mashed potatoes (usually fresh, but sometimes out of a box, when the budget was thin). I miss that, actually.

[quote] "Actually, if they still make them, I'm going to get a box this week and have them over steamed rice."

I don't know if they do, either. But seek them out! And if by chance this thread is still around, I'd love to hear about it after the fact.

I am not a FAAAN!

Oh! I forgot to finish the story at the beginning of my R11 post! When the coworker got married later on, she discovered she loved peas (all varieties), when her mother-in-law served them perfectly cooked (just heated through).

Peas are disgusting. Fuck all of you.

[quote] "Tammy's recipe minus the corn and chicken instead of ham sounds pretty dang tastey, darlin'."

I would definitely try it either way, R9! I'd keep the corn and peas (frozen of course) but would absolutely substitute chicken. I don't eat a lot of pork, but the bacon would be a must for me. At least the first time around.

[quote] "I am not a FAAAN!"

Christina, dear at R12...

[quote] "Peas are disgusting. Fuck all of you."

This opinion is also acceptable, R14. But I'm not sure I could fuck someone who doesn't like peas.

I thought I hated peas until I actually had them fresh from the garden. I think a lot of people hate vegetables because they've only eaten them from a can.

Lucille LeSewer canned peas

[quote] "I thought I hated peas until I actually had them fresh from the garden. I think a lot of people hate vegetables because they've only eaten them from a can."

I agree a thousans percent, R18. As I said in R11 & R12, a coworker had this same experience. If one prefers the can, so be it. But if one has only ever had the can, one should be open to trying the other varieties. It really can (and has) change one's perception.

I've had sufficient.

Frozen peas are tasteless only useful if you don't have an ice pack.

This past Thanksgiving and Christmas I sought Le Sueur peas, but there were none available locally. Usually, I'm a frozen peas guy, but Le Sueur Early Peas are smaller; the taste and the mouthfeel are unique. I wanted them for 'Peas and Pearl Onions in Cream Sauce.'

Brits love their "Mushy Peas", see picture"

I prefer shoving peas up my ass rather than grapes.

Mushy peas = Brits attempt at frijoles using green peas.

[quote] "Frozen peas are tasteless only useful if you don't have an ice pack."

We may not agree on this, but I appreciate your resourceful nature., R22.

Average age of posters in this thread: 74

[quote] "Brits love their "Mushy Peas", see picture"

Does that dish have its basis in Indian cuisine, R24? There are lots of similar things within the whole of Indian food. I've never given it any thought until now, oddly.

I love LeSueur Peas if they are to be eaten by themselves as a side dish. but if I'm putting them in something else like my Chicken Chowder I use a store brand.

Does anyone else love Tammy’s Galactic getup?

Star Wars invades Star Trek

Late 80s sweaters are a trend I wouldn't mind making a comeback.

Canned asparagus is a crime🤮!

[quote] "Usually, I'm a frozen peas guy, but Le Sueur Early Peas are smaller; the taste and the mouthfeel are unique."

I typically avoid all canned peas, but if this is a recommendation, I'll give them a whirl for the heck of it, R23.

[quote] "I wanted them for 'Peas and Pearl Onions in Cream Sauce.'"

I love this dish too. I have a friend who shares this opinion. He's almost sixty, and refers to it as an "old man" dish. I don't think it's as popular as it used to be in bygone eras, but it still has its fans, obviously.

Y’all get back to your Le Sueur leas!

*peas

I grow my own peas and do without if I can't get them fresh, like any sensible person with taste and self-respect.

Is that our Flo-Ho-Hag?

Julia Child and Jacques Pepin always disagreed over the use of frozen peas. Julia felt that one shouldn't bother serving peas unless they were fresh, while Jacques insisted that frozen peas were picked and frozen at their peak, and therefore acceptable. Later on, I saw America's Test Kitchen confirm that frozen peas won their taste tests. I used to think I disliked peas back when I was served canned peas, but I've learned I love frozen peas.

Holy cunt. This is what we have come to here? How old are you all???

Sadly, I vaguely remember my grandma liking these shit bag peas!

I hate peas and I hate this 93 year old republican OP.

Die, bitch!

[quote] "Why not just get frozen peas?"

This is also an option, and the one I most frequently take, R8.

I’ve never been a pea person. Mom said peas were the only baby food that I would spit out. As a young poor adult I made tuna casserole a lot and would toss in a cup of frozen peas for something green per recipe instructions. I do the same now in paella. I still wouldn’t make them as a stand alone side.

[quote] "Lucille LeSewer canned peas"

Ladies and gentlemen, Bette Davis has entered the thread. @R19.

Tammy looks like she’d rather be chomping on a big ciggie than watching Flo lube up all the veggies

[quote] "I grow my own peas and do without if I can't get them fresh, like any sensible person with taste and self-respect."

R38 You have the best taste where peas are concerned, anyway.

[quote] "Canned asparagus is a crime🤮!"

As much as I detest canned peas, I can eat them if necessary. But I outright REFUSE to eat canned asparagus, R34. But I do enjoy fresh.

My mother purchased a whole flat once (12?) at the "big" grocery store we only went to every other month. The checker commented that we "must sure like them leisure peas a whole lot"

For the past 40 years we have never called them anything else.

[quote] "I love LeSueur Peas if they are to be eaten by themselves as a side dish. but if I'm putting them in something else like my Chicken Chowder I use a store brand."

Ah. So Le Sueur are esseintally the "Sunday Best" of canned peas, R30.

[quote] "Does anyone else love Tammy’s Galactic getup?"

The sweater is nifty, but the earrings are my favorite!

[quote] "Late 80s sweaters are a trend I wouldn't mind making a comeback."

I agree, R33. As long as that hair doesn't!

[quote] "Julia felt that one shouldn't bother serving peas unless they were fresh..."

They're definitely the best that way, R40. Of course (and I'm a Julia fan) she also once praised McDonald's fries. Granted, they were better at the time than they are now.

[quote] "while Jacques insisted that frozen peas were picked and frozen at their peak"

Which is the whole point, to begin with. Exactly.

[quote] "I used to think I disliked peas back when I was served canned peas, but I've learned I love frozen peas."

I've heard this more than once, so you're not the only one. That's the beauty of having things available (in this case, peas) in different forms & preparations.

I had no idea Florence Henderson had a country cooking show in the 1980s.

[quote] "I hate peas and I hate this 93 year old republican OP."

Forty-two tomorrow, actually. And most decidedly NOT a Rethug.

[quote] "Die, bitch!"

At some point, I'm sure. Ninety-three wouldn't be too bad, considering both my parents died decades earlier than that. I'll just keep eating my peas R42, and if I'm fortunate I really will reach that ripe old age someday.

R53 She really walked hard on 10th ave for pimp daddy Wesson

[quote] "I had no idea Florence Henderson had a country cooking show in the 1980s."

She had broad appeal, R53. It was also a strange time, and so was TNN.

[quote] "My mother purchased a whole flat once (12?) at the "big" grocery store we only went to every other month. The checker commented that we "must sure like them leisure peas a whole lot"

[quote] "For the past 40 years we have never called them anything else."

I love this, R48.

Stand By Your Canned

Those Le Sewer peas are what caused Tammy's biliary disease.

W&W for r58.

Oh wow, I just came back and this thread got 60 replies! Who would have thought?

Visualize whirled peas!

DuBon will do if I can't get Le Sueur.

Love both.

Are Le Sueur peas what turned me gay? My Mom served them at least twice a week growing up. I never had a crunchy, bright green pea until I was an adult

Moe prefers I use Le Sueur over frozen in my tuna casserole.

[quote]Holy cunt. This is what we have come to here? How old are you all??? Sadly, I vaguely remember my grandma liking these shit bag peas! I hate peas and I hate this 93 year old republican OP. Die, bitch!

Knock it off, R41 - you're as old as anyone here. So old, in fact, that Quentin Crisp spoke about you:

"...people dislike homosexuality because they can't help concentrating on what homosexual men 𝑑𝑜 to one another. And when you contemplate what people 𝑑𝑜, you think of yourself 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 it. And they don't like that. That's the famous joke: I don't like peas, and I'm glad I don't like them, because if I liked them I would eat them and I hate them.”

I've grown my own a few years in my lifetime, one of the earliest vegetables you can harvest when the weather starts to warm up and the whole world comes back to life. The whole process is a lot of work, and you only get 2 pods per plant. But the taste of those things when they have only been off the vine for about an hour is just indescribable, it's like eating Spring.

My Mother was a lousy cook. Meat was cooked to oblivion. canned veg the norm. My Dad was a wonderful cook, as was his Mom. Some people just do not have the taste thing going. All good cooks seem to rely on their taste buds to guide them with seasoning.

Le Sewer. lolllll

[italic]Dear Lord

If I ever get to a point in my life where I consider my decision not to eat canned peas a "win" so strongly that I feel the need to focus on specific brands of canned peas and the fact that they may cost a few cents more than other peas...to the point where I go on a message board to discuss it...please let me die a quick and painless death.

Thank you.

I only like pea soup, won't eat peas any other way

R71 I’m with you. They are my least favorite vegetable. My grandma used to make hamburgers with a side dish of canned peas sprinkled with paprika and it was pure torture to eat them.

But I did. She was a sweet old lady.

Le Sueur peas are RILLY top drawer!