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| Storing dry black eyed peas Store dry black-eyed peas in a cool, dry place, away from high temperature and humidity. |
| Cooking with black-eyed peas Before cooking black-eyed beans you have to hydrate them first by soaking them in water. There are two ways to do this, the overnight way and the quick way. For the overnight method, add the beans to a bowl, cover with cold water, cover and put in the refrigerator overnight. Drain and discard water and cook. To quickly soak them, pour the beans in boiling water and boild for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. Discard water and cook. |
| Nutritional information on black-eyed peas Black-eyed peas are low in fat, low in sodium and contain no cholesterol. They are high in fiber, iron and potassium. |
Using blackberries When using whole frozen berries for baked goods such as muffins, used them frozen - do not thaw. Gently fold them into the mixture to avoid crushing them. If serving frozen berries alone, partially thaw them and sprinkle them with sugar to bring out their taste and juices.
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Choosing blackberries When buying blackberries, select dry, shiny and clean berries in an unstained container. Their color should be black. Moisture increases spoilage of the berries so choose the ones that are dry and keep them dry, away from moisture, until you use them. Fresh berries should be consumed within 2 to 3 days from purchase.
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Cooking with black beans Black beans can be soaked before cooking. This process hydrates the beans and makes cooking easier. Soak beans in cold water for 3 to 4 hours, changing the water 2 or 3 times in between. Drain and use the beans as per recipe.
To cook beans add 2 parts cold water per 1 part beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer slowly for about 2 hours.
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Cleaning dried black beans Before using dried black beans, pick through them, picking out small pebbles, split and withered beans and any other foreign matter. After you are done, put the beans in a bowl and cover them with cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes, remove anything that flows, drain and repeat the process until the beans are clean.
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Preparing berries To prepare fresh berries, first check them one by one and discard bad, undesirable fruit. Then rinse them with cold water and pat dry them.
Commercially frozen berries do not need any cleaning. Just thaw and use. If using your own frozen berries, a quick rinse is necessary, after thawing. When you’re ready to use the berries, go through the lot once more to sort out any undesirable fruit.
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| Freezing fresh berries Place unwashed, completely dry berries in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer and let the berries freeze completely. When completely frozen, transfer the berries to plastic bags or other suitable containers and keep frozen for up to a year. |
| Storing fresh berries Before storing berries you should check them one by one and discard any deformed or moldy berries. Separate overripe berries from the rest and consume them within one day. Store remaining berries in a shallow container lined and even topped with paper towels. Wrap the container in plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Do not wash berries that will be refrigerated. Wash just before eating them. |
