There's a very serious pea debate happening right now. Actually, it's been going on since, mmm, the beginning of time? Peas. The little green pebbles that roll around all over the plate, making your utensil go on a wild chase. (Yeah, the rolly part doesn't change whether mushy or snappy.) If you don't like them turning into army green moosh, you know to just barely blanch them, so they get warm but still maintain their snap. But then you have people like Francis Lam, food editor of Salon.com, leading the Mushy Pea movement. He points out that peas, by nature, are beans, which means we should cook them like beans "until they soften again and show off their creamy, complexly, maturely sweet selves." More

Whether to use up leftovers or as a creation all on its own, shepherd's pie is an ultimate comfort food. But as I began experimenting with various ways to make the dish spicy compared to my tried and true recipe, I realized creativity can be utilized in each layer for a new spin on the classic, like with my Shepherd's Pie with Jalapeno-Pea Purée recipe. More

The latest from @ConanOBrien, Conan O'Brien's two-week old Twitter account: "If I had a show, I'd tweet about which Oscar winner is coming on tonight. Instead, here's my favorite frozen vegetable: Peas!" Are you pro-frozen peas too? Do you want to eat more of them knowing that Conan does? More

[Image: disney.go.com] Today Disney revealed two new characters that will appear in Toy Story 3, coming out on June 18, 2010: Barbie's boyfriend Ken and, more importantly, Peas-in-a-Pod! Plush, smiling, rosy-cheeked peas in a pod! The official description says, "Peas-in-a-Pod will quickly become a parent's favorite on-the-go toy," but I think it's also appropriate for people like me: adults who are kids at heart. And really like round, cute things. In case you're curious to see what's already out there, I searched online for "peas in a pod" toys and plushes and found human baby doll in a pod, pea baby doll in a pod, more pea babies in a pod, peas in a pod rattle, dog toy, dog... More

[Photograph: Weelicious] If your kids don't like peas, maybe it's just because they haven't had them in frozen popsicle form. Weelicious shares a recipe for Peas In a Pop, a popsicle made of frozen peas and water. Apparently kids go crazy for them. Curious to see what other pea-centric popsicle recipes exist, I came across Minty Pea Pops (also made of cream cheese, chocolate chips, and sugar) from The Toddler Cafe by Jennifer Carden. The recipe says that they taste like like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Related Ice Cream on a Stick: Homemade Fudgsicles How to Make Homemade Bomb Pops... More

This past Saturday the 39th Annual World Pea Shooting Championship was held in Witcham, England. Competitors had to hit a target made of putty from 12 yards away. The Telegraph reports on the latest in pea-shooter technology (a laser-guided shooter with gyroscopic balancing) and the characteristics of successful pea-shooting (such as "moisture criteria," the optimum amount of saliva on the pea). The winner, Jim Collins, used a traditional peashooter.... More

©iStockphoto.com/ValentynVolkov Green peas remind me of the steamy Georgia weather and lazy days filled with ice cold lemonade and pretty pink sundresses. Starting in May, just as we shed our own winter coats, it is time for the peas to jump out of the pod and be gobbled up by pea fans nationwide. These emerald gems have been around for a long time--in fact, the Chinese believed that their emperor Shu Nung, discovered peas 5,000 years ago. Legend has it that he wandered around the countryside observing and collecting plants, looking for those which might be suitable for food or medicine--one of which was green peas. Later in 17th century Europe, green peas were a delicacy and seen as... More

Photo by Jennifer Dickert The last couple of weeks, the greenmarket has been full of piles of sugar snap peas. Sugar snap peas have edible pods and don't require shelling—they're crisp and sweet and perfect for snacking on just as they are. To prepare them, you may need to "string" them by removing the membranous string running along the top of the pod from base to tip. If overcooked, the pods will open so treat with care. Here are a few recipes we think are worth trying this sugar snap pea season:... More