Recipe - Green Pea Pudding

1 One half pound Dried split peas
2 One fourth cup Water
One half cup Sugar
2 tablespoon Cornstarch
4 tablespoon Water

1. Soak dried split peas overnight in water.

2. Bring to a boil, using the same water. Then simmer, covered, until peas
are soft (1One half to 2 hours).

3. Strain into a bowl through a fine sieve. Then stir in sugar. Return to
saucepan and reheat over very low flame, stirring frequently to prevent
burning.

4. Meanwhile blend cornstarch and remaining cold water to a paste. Then
stir in over mediumlow heat to thicken.

5. Pour into a shallow rectangular pan, to a depth of 1 inch. Let cool;
then refrigerate until set.

6. Cut the pudding in 1inch cubes and pile these, pyramid fashion, on a
serving platter. Garnish with maraschino cherries and serve.

NOTE: This dish, also known as Pea Cubes, Pea Jelly Squares and Green Pea
Cake, is eaten like a candy with toothpicks or small dessert forks. In
China, it is served in the summertime with afternoon tea. VARIATION: In
step 3, before returning the mixture to the saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons
oil or lard; then pour in the strained pea puree and stir constantly over
very low heat to thicken. (Watch out for burning.) Omit the cornstarch
paste. Pick up steps 5 and 6.

SOAK OVERNIGHT

From The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook, ISBN 0517658704. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.