Unacceptable peas...

Rejected. Shunned. Sniffed at like second class citizens in the pea society...

                

                

Or at least by the man in the house. " Harvested too late", he says, "already gone square, flat and squashed, they are no good at all". I look at the little green pea men in their little green pods. They look fine to me and I feel for them for being looked at with such vehemence. Not only is the man in the house a keen gardener, he is also a gourmet chef. As a hobby, that is. But with the same critical eye as any professional restaurateur...

Keen to show some compassion and understanding for my slightly overweight and - in some snobbish eyes - misshapen green friends, I quickly invite them to a heartening metamorphosis. The 'acceptable' peas briefly pose in an old wooden salt tray-boat-thing - a treasured souvenir from northern Guatemala many years ago - before being cooked and consumed. The 'unacceptable' rejects, well, they will strut their veggie pride for days to come, sending the message of love to the world. In my opinion, a very acceptable life mission indeed. So, who's laughing now, eh?