Back in my college days, The Embers restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, MI was THE place to go for a formal dinner or those special occasions. Their signature dishes were the Peas & Peanuts salad, which back in my day they served as a free appetizer when you were seated at a table…and their famous roasted One Pound Pork Chop.
Alas, The Embers, run by the Clarence Tumas family, was closed in 2007. A true sign of their popularity however is the agreement with the Tumas family to provide a pulled pork sandwich based on their famous One Pound Pork Chop, along with a side of peas & peanuts…at Central Michigan University sports events…..now is that an accolade?
Here is the very simple but crunchy Peas & Peanuts dish they were famous for…in fact, rumor has it that they served this dish to Jimmy Carter back when he was President!!!!
Peas & Peanuts
Ingredients:
- 8 oz frozen peas (do not used canned)
- 8 oz salted Spanish peanuts (preferably without skins)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Thaw peas in strainer so that any excess water drains.
Add peas and peanuts to dressing and mix well. Refrigerate 1 hour, then stir again before serving. Best served the same day.
In my version, I add 1/2 cup of sour cream, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, and a few dashes of Tabasco.
I remember going to the Embers with my husband on special occasions and the one thing we always looked forward to was the Peas and Peanuts. Outstanding.
Sorry, but this is NOT The Embers Peas-N-Peanuts Recipe. I worked there for 11 years up until closing day in the salad department which made the Peas-N-Peanuts!!
I worked at The Embers in 1964/65, and served a lot of Peas ‘N Peanuts. Your recipe looks delish, but it’s not the original. This is easier, uses fewer ingredients, and can be rinsed and used the next day, which is what they did.
Pour a bag of frozen peas into a pot of salted, boiling water. When the water comes back to a boil, remove from the stove and drain all the water. When completely cooled, pour peas into a large mixing bowl and add redskin peanuts-this is all estimates on amounts. Mix it all with mayonnaise to the texture you want. That’s it! Nothing else, ever. If there are any leftovers, rinse the mayo off in a colander, drain, and save overnight in the fridge. The mayo should just lightly cover the p’s and p’s. I promise, this is the original. I watched the salad ladies make it and I’ve made myself many times.
Enjoy!
No, Alan, it must be peanuts and peas
Clarence Tuma managed all of the Food Commons at CMU before he opened The Embers. He served peanuts and peas. That was my first intro to the salad.
I was privileged to get the written receipt directly from The Embers in 1962, it is nothing like the one posted. Perhaps they changed some ingredients thru the years. This dish had been a MUST for our family each Thanksgiving and Christmas for 50+ years. It’s been fun, as a new member of our family was introduced to see their reaction. We always say, “try it, it’s an acquired taste.” A one # chop, peas and peanuts, and a big slice of German Chocolate Cake….it didn’t get any better than that!!
In Mr. Tuma’s memoir book, “The One-Pound Pork Chop”, available at the CMU Bookstore, his original recipe included only the frozen peas, Spanish Peanuts and Miracle Whip. I wish someone had the recipe for the chicken salad that was sold at the deli in Tuma’s Country Gourmet aka Tuma’s Country Store in Mt. PLeasant. It was far and away the best I have ever had, and yet it was simple, much like his peas and peanuts. Sometimes there is elegance in simplicity. And I have found the book to be an amazing tour of history in Southeast and Central Michigan through the eyes and life of his family and friends as told by Mr. Tuma.
Not a rumor, he did fix this dish for President Carter
Brings back memories of CMU. I loved that dish. Just went online to see if anyone heard of it and found this recipe. Thrilled.
My husband and I loved coming from Lansing to the Embers for dinner and of course loved the “Peas and Peanuts”. Is this the actual recipe? I don’t recall there being any sourness that sour cream would give the salad. It was more sweet. I’m really pleased to have the recipe!
no, this is not the original recipe, but still tasty. The original recipe only called for peas, peanuts and mayo…very simple and delish. Quick and easy to make. Ideal for a summer side dish!
I was struggling to explain to a friend tonight about an odd and disturbing Thanksgiving dish from my childhood. Our version was *just* peas, peanuts and Miracle Whip, whipped up by my mom (famous culinary tag line: “I just omit that ingredient!”). Since we were all born in Central MI and had many a fancy meal at Embers, this is a fun discovery.
Try the pistachio’s. They’re so good.
I made this after we had it the first time. We really like it. And I remember having it at the Embers.
We used to eat this when Embers was in Mt. Pleasant. I don’t know the recipe, but we made our own version. Does it have all of the ingredients you listed, or is that a tweaked version? Sure sounds good. Loved that salad!
I missed that you did change it up a little. It sounds really good, too!
My dad worked at the Embers for 25 years. Our family got to go there once a year for family night. I remember the Pea and Peanut Salad as being my favorite part of the meal. My mother still lives by the old Embers and every time I go by that corner even tho it is now a church I still remember the meals we ate there. Love you and miss you Embers!
I’ve been asking EVERYONE from back home for this recipe. I went to school at Central Michigan University, and lived in the area for many years. There were several restaurants that served this besides the Embers, and I had assumed it was served everywhere. I now live in South Carolina, and no one has heard of it. I’m so grateful for this recipe. It is one of my all-time favorites.
That is the strangest dish I have seen but I am going to try it
what do you think of using pistaschio nuts instead….I like them better and use them on my cereal in the morning with frozen blueberries. You have to do something with plain cherrios to make them edible…..I have been chasing cherrios around my breakfast dish for years….
Thanks for the post
alan
How did you like that version?
Actually, the original Ember’s recipe was THREE ingredients. Family and former Ember’s employees insist on that.
Peas
Peanuts (yes, spanish)
Miracle whip.
That’s. It.
My family sparks that recipe with a LITTLE sour cream. But NONE of the rest of that stuff!
This is such a good taste…lived in Mt Pleasant for 35 years…love the 1 lb pork chop and this salad!
No. Keep it as is. Don’t mess with this very good recipe. My family made this for year’s at our restaurant.
If you change to pistachios instead of Spanish peanuts you will not get the intended taste…..Which is awesome.