"I could cook peas 'n rice with my eyes closed"

So says Flo Percentie as she sells fresh peas at the vegetable stand on Colebrook Street. "I been cooking all my life," says the former second chef at the old Pink Sands Hotel from its early days under Allen Malcolm.

The peas from peas 'n rice often come dried or canned, but they're best when fresh. Here's Flo's version of the Bahamas most ubiquitous dish.

Shell the peas and boil them in the water for about an hour or until soft.

Fry up the bacon and add your "herbs" meaning the pepper, onion, and celery.

Then add the peas and tomato paste to the fried herbs and let the flavors mix.

Use the water from the peas to boil together the rice and peas. Cook until the rice is soft, about 20 minutes.

Serves 8 hungry Bahamians.

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