Have you heard the famous story of the princess and the pea? Once upon a time a handsome prince is looking for a princess to marry, but he cannot find one that he loves. One dark and stormy night a young woman, soaked by the rain, knocks on the castle door.  The prince answers the door and is immediately smitten by her beauty. She claims to be a princess, but the prince’s mother - the Queen - is not so sure. So that night she sets out a bed for the young woman with twenty soft mattresses stacked one on top of another, and beneath the bottom mattress she places a single pea. The next morning the young woman tells her host that she endured a sleepless night, kept awake by something hard in the bed. “Rejoice,” said the Queen, “for she is truly a princess” and the prince and princess get married, and live happily ever after. The End. It is estimated that the average Brit eats 9,000 peas a year - you should try one. You can simply boil them or microwave with a little water for a few minutes. Fresh peas are stored like other podded peas and beans - simply keep dry in an airtight bag or container in the fridge for up to a week. To prep fresh peas, tear open the pods and scoop the peas out. For frozen, just heat through until piping hot!