I haven't seen carlins in the shops for donkey's years, but found some this week. They've been soaking over night, so I hope they are as good as I remember.

If only I could get Bhutanese red rice as well, I'd be a happy bunny.

What's a carlin? Never heard of them and Google wasn't much help...

Nor me. Wikipedia has certainly never heard of it.

"Phoned a friend"! He tells me they are grey or maple peas, traditionally eaten in Lent in the North East (inc. Yorkshire apparently), particularly Newcastle. Seems they are dried for storage and you soak them before use. Google knows what they are...

http://carlinpeas.tripod.com/

Now I'm a Yorkshireman and in all my 46 years I've never heard of them before, let alone cooked or eaten them. The Geordie folk are big on pea dishes though, they still have pease puddin' as a delicacy... (Blaurgh )

You can get that here.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lotus-Foods-...0516403&sr=8-2

I've never heard of it before but the reviewers seem keen, too! I'm going to try it.

Asa kid we always had them on Carlin Sunday (Passion Sunday, although the effects will quell any passion). http://www.heritageandhistory.com/co...36791992187500

I had it in Bhutan and Sainsbury's did it for a couple of years in their extra costly range. I tried the Camargue red rice but it wasn't the same.

Smudges Mum will be very happy

I can't wait to try it so thanks for mentioning it. I'm just thinking of having stir fried vegetables with it?

And what a place to go! That must have been an experience.

We call them grey peas in the Midlands and lots of shops sell them. We add bacon bits to our peas.
http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/greypeasandbacon.htm
we also call them grey farters for obvious reasons.

I thought I imagined these from my childhood as no-one has ever heard of them and I have never seen them for years. Used to like them though.
My Mum used to say 'Carlin Sunday = Farting Monday

I had the Bhutanese red rice for dinner tonight - absolutely delicious!!!

Ade Edmonson on "Ade in Britain" - ITV is making Carlins in Northumberland, as I write.