Southern English Pea Salad

This Southern English pea salad is a refreshing and delicious side dish, perfect for any gathering. Made with peas, bacon, herbs, and a creamy dressing, it’s sure to be a hit at your next potluck or holiday dinner.

It’s the perfect side dish for Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. I don’t know where English pea salad originated from, or why it’s so dang good considering it’s the world’s shortest list of ingredients, but I do know that any time someone shares a photo of a Southern Potluck or church spread, there’s that pea salad!

Last Fourth of July, we had Cade’s mom, brother, and his family and a friend over for a fun day of swimming and eating. Yes, I did wear a red bathing suit. Yes, I did get mistaken for the lifeguard 100 times. I have had the worst time trying to find a bathing suit that wasn’t cut crazy high or crazy low all year and this one I love, though I will watch where I wear it now. 

But back to the BBQ — we swam, the kids became exhausted, and we headed back to the house where we cooked up classic burgers thanks to our 2 hamburger secrets post, and a selection of our favorite summer salads including this green pea salad, our tomato mozzarella salad, and Nancy’s Southern Grape Salad. We finished the night off with our dreamiest Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting EVER.

Green pea salad is considered to be low-carb, gluten-free, and a slightly healthier option to pasta salad (though we have a pasta version of this recipe too if you prefer). But this doesn’t mean it’s straight up healthy — it contains bacon, cheese, and mayonnaise, after all.

What Ingredients Do I Need for This Salad Recipe?

Although English pea salad has a few different names, it’s all the exact same thing — cold pea salad. You may hear it called pea salad, English Pea Salad, Southern Pea Salad, Green Pea Salad, or, as we’ve called it, Southern English Pea Salad.

Here’s what goes into this easy potluck side dish recipe: 

• Frozen Peas
• Mayonnaise
• Apple Cider Vinegar 
• Salt and Pepper
• Red Onion
• Bacon
• Cheese (Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese is our favorite)

Some recipes also call for hard-boiled eggs, which we left out this time as I’m really enjoying it as a straight up pea salad lately. I’ve added it into the recipe as optional in case

Cornmeal Mush

This might make me a grandma, but I am obsessed with cornmeal mush! There is just something so comforting and simple about it. It is creamy, fulfilling and and warms me up from the inside out.

I’m writing this post 5 days before Christmas so I’m in a Christmas frame of mind. I think I might even make this for Christmas breakfast this year! So whether you’re a kid from 1 to 92, this breakfast recipe is for you! It might make you feel like you are 92, but you’ll also melt for it’s warm and simple goodness. And some things are worth melting for! Thanks, Olaf, for that one!

Don’t just limit yourself to breakfast either! This recipe makes a great lunch or quick and simple dinner!

What is Cornmeal Mush?

Picture the porridge from Goldilocks and the three bears, and that is cornmeal mush! At least that’s what I always picture. Cornmeal mush is a Southern meal that combines cornmeal with water or milk. It simmers together on the stove until it is creamy and delicious. If you are familiar with Cream of Wheat, it is similar to that in consistency, but it uses corn instead of wheat. 

Ingredients for Cornmeal Mush

You only need 3 ingredients for this home cooked comfort, and it’s great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here is all you need:

• Milk – you can use any type of milk (whole, 2%, 1%, fat free) or you can even use water if you prefer, but milk is my favorite
• Cornmeal – 
• Salt – adds flavor
• Toppings – feel free to make this dish your own with the toppings, see suggestions below.

The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe card below. The recipe can also be saved or printed there.

How to Make Cornmeal Mush

It’s a very simple process that begins bringing some of the milk to a boil. Be careful to not let it burn. In a separate bowl, you combine more milk with the cornmeal and salt until it is smooth. Then you pour the milk and cornmeal mixture into the boiling milk whisking constantly. Turn the heat down to the low and stir everything together until the mush thickens.

Toppings for Cornmeal Mush

Serve the cornmeal mush with a drizzle of cream, honey, or maple syrup. You could add berries or chopped nuts or bananas. You can really add whatever toppings you love.

Is Cornmeal Mush the Same as Grits?

Grits is a type of cornmeal mush but the grind on the cornmeal is a little more coarse. Grits are often served savory with cheese and salt and pepper. Although grits can be served sweet on occasion. 

Is Cornmeal Mush Gluten Free?

Cornmeal on its own is gluten free so as long as everything add to it or on top of it is gluten free, then you are good to go! This recipe is gluten free.

Storing, Reheating and Freezing Cornmeal

Cornmeal mush will keep in the refrigerator for quite some time. I’ve stretched it for more than a week and it has still be perfect! Store it in an airtigh

Southern Macaroni and Cheese [+ Video]

When we think of macaroni and cheese we always think of Grandma Carol’s ultimate comfort food, her cheesy Southern Macaroni and Cheese!

It’s so nice when we get to go back to the Carolinas to visit family; we wish we could go more often. There’s so much history there, and we love to see it all. As much as we love to visit all the places, we can’t wait to get together with family for some good old family food favorites and great chats. When we get together with Grandma Carol and Grandpa Lou, it is a sure bet that one of the dishes will be macaroni and cheese and that not one morsel will be left in the dish at the end of the meal.

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