~Bona Vita~

Root vegetables are unearthed this time of year. They grace the covers and pages of cooking magazines and turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving feasts. Historically, these hearty wonders conjure up visions of nourishing the peasant masses. I feel, somehow, connected to the past as I scrub the soil from the fleshy unrefined skins of these subterranean delights.

The potato, sweet potato, rutabaga, parsnip and carrot (to name a few) - recipes abound for these unpretentious treasures.

Mashed Potatoes

15-18 peeled, quartered potatoes

8-12 tbl. butter

1/4 - 1/2  cup hot milk

Place potatoes in salted boiling water for 25 minutes until tender. Place in a standard mixer with a wire whip attachment. Break up lumps, then begin whipping, adding butter. Whip until smooth.  Slowly add the hot milk adjusting for a proper consistency. Blend until creamy. Serve piping hot with your choice of garnishes. Season to taste. Serves 10-12

The following recipe was uncovered by my daughter in the November 2007 issue of Bon Appetit. We customized it by adding the cranberries and pecans.

Smashed Rutabagas with Ginger-Roasted Pears

4 pounds rutabagas, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/2 tbl extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbl fresh lemon juice

1 tbl crystallized ginger or equivalent powdered ginger

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3 firm pears (about 1 3/4 lbs), peeled, cored, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

5 tbl butter

1 tbl chopped fresh thyme

Coarse kosher salt

Cook rutabagas in pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 35 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400° F. Grease large rimmed baking sheet. combine oil, lemon juice, ginger, and sugar in a large bowl. Add pears; toss to coat. Spread on prepared sheet. Roast until tender, turning pears every 10 minutes, about 35 minutes total. Drain rutabagas; return to same pot. Mash to coarse puree. Stir over medium heat until excess moisture evaporates, 5 minutes. Add cream, butter, and thyme. Mix in pears and any juices from baking sheet. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” - Proverbs15:17

Tags: autumn, vegetables