Winter Share Seven February 21st 2019

Important information:

• This is a bimonthly distribution only.
• Coming soon; website payment for summer shares via the website. Details will be sent when ready.

Farm News from Jane
Well the winter weather is back; at least until the weekend. However, we sure have appreciated the full moon reflecting off the new white blanket of snow this last week! The old adage making lemonade from lemons might be reworked to say we may take the bitter fruit (of the return cold & snow) and allow ourselves to experience the sweeter side; the beauty of nature. Although we have had some fairly cold temperatures this winter, we have been very thankful to be able to have something freshly harvested in each share this season. That is not always the case for winter shares. This week we harvested a newer variety of lettuce called Salanova. It is a variety which grows a small head and Its unique core structure allows fully mature heads to be easily cut into uniform leaves once harvested. Then it is easily washed and spun dry to be bagged for shares. I generally prefer head lettuce to a salad green mix as I like the crisper texture. This variety gives us the best of both worlds; crisp sweet lettuce but coming to you “table ready”. We raise many plantings of head lettuce over the summer share season and although we do soak them in two cold water baths; it is not enough to remove all the dirt which is trapped at the plant’s bottom leaves. We have sampled the Salanova greens and have a wonderful sweet flavor and crisp texture.
The seeding continues and the greenhouse is filling up quickly. The differing colors of green and red are a welcome site on a cold and snowy day. It is always so hard to believe when the wind is howling and the snow is flying that the first blades of green grass are only short time away. It looks like Phil’s prediction for the last six weeks of windy, winter weather will continue to keep our steps brisk and our cheeks rosy. Enjoy a bowl of good bone-warming soup or some satisfyingly-rich roasted roots. Sweet treats that pack a nutritious punch! Keep that flu bug at bay… Share some winter warmth, Jane

Produce:   Adirondack Blue potatoes   Cooking onions   Garlic   Golden beets
Orange and Purple carrots   Lettuce mix   Kohlrabi  Rutabaga

Produce tips:
– The Golden beets are yummy in the salad and slaw recipes.
– Try experimenting with mixing the different colored roots for palate appeal. Kids love color!!!
– Adirondack blue potatoes make great French fries or chips!
– Remember to either “scrub” the carrots vigorously to remove the very outside layer or peel to remove the lightly bitter outer layer caused by cold storage.

Recipes
FRIED BEETS AND CARROTS
2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; 2 medium beets, quartered, sliced 1/4-inch thick; 2 medium carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick; tamari sauce; greens
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add cumin; cook about 1 minute. Add beets and carrots; fry until tender. Remove from heat, sprinkle on a little tamari, and serve. Variation: If using young beets save the tops. When the beets and carrots are tender, add chopped greens, cover, and cook until soft. Toss mixture, sprinkle with tamari, and serve. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from Linda Derrickson, Sunporch Cafe

AUTUMN BEET AND VEGETABLE SALAD WITH CHEESE AND NUTS
Dressing: 1/3 cup minced onions; 5 tablespoons cider vinegar; 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley; 11/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup olive oil; salt and pepper to taste
Salad: 2 cups cooked, diced yellow or red beets; 1 1/2 cups blanched, diced carrots; 1 1/2 cups cooked, diced waxy-type potatoes; 1 cup diced roasted red peppers; 11/2 cups diced Jonathan apples; 4-6 ounces cheese, crumbled; 2/3 cup nuts, toasted 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees
Make dressing: Combine onions, vinegar, basil or parsley, and mustard. Whisk in olive oil in a thin stream. Season with salt and pepper. To assemble the salad, toss each type of vegetable and the apples, one type at a time, with enough dressing to barely coat them. Arrange in separate piles in a wide, shallow bowl. Serve at room temperature. Just before serving, sprinkle salad with cheese and nuts, add more salt and pepper to taste, and toss gently. The original recipe calls for blue cheese and hickory nuts, but other nuts and cheeses can be used according to your preference. Makes 8-12 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

ORANGE BORSCHT
4 medium-size beets peeled and coarsely grated; 5 cups beef stock; salt; freshly ground black pepper to taste; 2 cups tomato juice; 2 1/2 cups orange juice; yogurt; chopped chives
Bring grated beets to a boil in beef stock which has been seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add tomato juice. Puree mixture in electric blender, then add orange juice, mixing well to combine. Refrigerate for several hours. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and chopped chives. Yield: approximately 10 cups

WARM GOLDEN BEET SALAD WITH GREENS AND ALMONDS                                                                                1 bunch beets, olive oil, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, 4 cloves garlic, minced, 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled, 2/3 cup toasted almond slivers.
Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan or cake tin with a big square of foil, large enough to complete enclose the beet roots. Lightly rinse the beet roots to remove any really clumpy dirt and pat them dry. Place them in the foil square and lightly drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Fold up the foil and crease to seal. Bake the beets for 60 minutes or until they can be just pierced with a fork. Set aside to cool. Sauté the garlic in olive oil until fragrant and lightly browned. When the beets are cool, rub them with a paper towel to remove the skin. Then chop into bite sized pieces and toss with the garlic, goat cheese, and almonds. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or cold. (This also makes an excellent pressed sandwich filling, especially with some extra goat cheese.)

GOLDEN BEET AND SUNFLOWER SEED SALAD

2 1/2 lb. medium golden beets, 1/2 cup raw (not roasted) sunflower seeds (2 1/4 oz), 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot, 2 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 6 oz sunflower sprouts or baby mesclun (6 cups)
Put oven racks in lower third and middle of oven and preheat oven to 425°F. Trim beet greens, leaving 1 inch of stems attached. Tightly wrap beets together in double layers of foil to make packages (2 or 3 per package) and roast in middle of oven until tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Unwrap beets and cool slightly. While beets roast, toast sunflower seeds in a pie plate or a small baking pan in lower third of oven, shaking occasionally, until seeds are golden, about 10 minutes. Whisk together shallot, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar in a small bowl, then add oil in a stream, whisking. When beets are cool enough to handle, slip off and discard skins. Cut beets lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and gently toss with 3 tablespoons vinaigrette in a bowl. Toss sunflower sprouts and half of sunflower seeds with remaining vinaigrette in another bowl. Arrange beets on 6 salad plates and top with dressed sprouts. Sprinkle salads with remaining sunflower seeds.
Cooks’ note: Beets can be roasted, sliced, and dressed 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
Recipe from Epicurious.com

GOLDEN BEET SLAW
1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 tablespoon orange juice 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, 1 1/2 pounds golden beets, peeled and cut into matchsticks, 3 scallions, sliced, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Peel beets with peeler and then cut into matchsticks. Whisk together oil, vinegar, zest, orange juice, salt, and pepper. Toss with beets, scallions, and cilantro. Serves 6; recipe from Martha Stewart Living

GARLIC MASHED-RUTABAGA AND POTATO

4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups), 2 medium rutabagas, peeled and cubed (about 5 cups), 2 garlic cloves, peeled, 2 t butter, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 to 1/3 C warm buttermilk
Place potatoes, rutabagas and garlic in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain; return to pan. Mash potatoes, gradually adding butter, salt, pepper and enough buttermilk to reach desired consistency

GARLIC ROASTED POTATOES AND CARROTS
1 lb. small potatoes, whole, or larger potatoes cut into chunks; 1/2 lb. baby carrots, whole or large carrots cut up; 1 tbsp. olive oil; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper, 1 clove garlic, minced, 2 tsp. fresh thyme, minced
Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the potatoes, baby carrots, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme. Stir to mix well. Pour the potato-carrot mixture into an oven-safe large skillet (or can spread out on a rimmed baking sheet lined with tin foil). Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the potatoes, baby carrots, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme. Stir to mix well. Pour the potato-carrot mixture into an oven-safe large skillet (or can spread out on a rimmed baking sheet lined with tin foil). Place the skillet into the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The potatoes and carrots are done when they are tender when pierced with a fork. Servings: 4; Recipe from Center Cut Cook

SLOW-FRIED FRENCH FRIES
Peel 2 lb. potatoes; cut into french-fry sticks. Rinse; shake off water. Transfer potatoes to a large deep heavy pot, spreading potatoes so they’re no more than 2 layers deep. Pour in safflower or vegetable oil to cover potatoes by 1″. Place pot over medium heat. Cook for 15 minutes (oil will begin bubbling gently). Continue cooking, occasionally loosening potatoes from the bottom of the pot with a heatproof spatula, until potatoes are very tender, 25–30 minutes more. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes longer (oil will bubble more vigorously). Using a slotted spoon, transfer fries to paper towels to drain. Season with coarse sea salt; four servings *The slow-frying method is revolutionary. Try this French fries recipe and you’ll never “fast” fry your potatoes again! Recipe by Adam Rapoport Recipe from Bonappetit

POTATO CHOWDER SOUP 
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes, 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup diced celery, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup butter, 2 cups milk, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained, 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Place potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and salt in a large pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine butter, milk and flour in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until smooth and thick. Pour milk mixture into cooked vegetables. Stir in corn and cheese until cheese is melted. Serve. Recipe from allrecipes.com

SAVORY POTATO-BEAN SOUP
1 Tbsp olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice; 1 1/4 c diced ham; 2 lbs. potatoes, scrubbed and diced; 1 (16-oz) can kidney beans, drained; 5 c beef broth
In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over high heat and stir-fry garlic 1 1/2 minutes. Add onion and cook 2 minutes. Add pie spice and ham; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in potatoes, beans and broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, cheese or parsley. Makes 8 servings

ROASTED POTATOES WITH SOUTHWESTERN SPICES
Cut potatoes into bite sized pieces coat with olive oil. Roast in 425-degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until done. While the potatoes roast, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat. When the butter starts to sizzle, add 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 medium garlic clove, minced, and cook 1 fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer roasted potatoes to a serving bowl. Pour spiced butter over the potatoes, toss, and serve immediately.

SPIRALED BLUE POTATO AND YELLOW CARROT CASSEROLE
(Blue Potato and Yellow Carrot Raratouille)
Purple Potatoes, sliced into rounds, yellow carrots, sliced into rounds, shallots, olive oil, garlic, thyme & fresh sage, to taste, Celtic salt & black pepper to taste, 1-2 T cheddar cheese, grated, 1-2 T parmesan, grated,
Cook the shallots down in olive oil with garlic, thyme & fresh sage. Transfer to a round baking dish. Arrange the veggies on the bed of cooked down shallots. Season with olive oil, Celtic salt, black pepper and thyme. Bake at 375F covered for 30 mins. Then uncover it and sprinkle with shredded cheddar + parm and bake at 425 for an additional 20 mins.

PURPLE POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS3 Slices of thick style bacon, 1/2 pound new purple potatoes sliced in half and then in small wedges, 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced lengthwise, 4 medium sized shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced, Olive oil, Kosher Salt
Freshly cracked pepper, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, 1 tablespoon chopped capers, 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Start caramelizing the onions: In a small sauté pan heat one tablespoon of olive oil over a low heat. Add the sliced onions in one even layer, after five minutes add 1/2 tablespoon of butter, stir and add a pinch of kosher salt. While rendering your bacon and cooking your mushrooms in the next steps, make sure to stir the onions every few minutes and remove once they are evenly browned. This should take around 30 minutes, remove from heat when finished and reserve. Cook the bacon: While the onions are slowly cooking slice the bacon in small batonettes (1/8-inch crosswise strips) on your cutting board. Heat up a larger sauté pan on medium and when your pan is hot add the sliced bacon. Slowly sauté the bacon until slightly crispy and remove from the pan onto a paper towel-lined plate, reserve for later. Cook mushrooms in rendered bacon fat: Julienne the shiitake mushrooms and then add them to the pan which now has the rendered bacon fat. Add a pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper to the Shiitake mushrooms, don’t shake the pan but let the mushrooms brown evenly on one side. Once browned, flip the mushrooms delicately and remove from pan onto a smaller plate, reserve. Brown the purple potatoes: Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in the pan and add the evenly sliced potatoes to the hot pan in a single layer; make sure not to crowd the pan. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and a good pinch of salt to the potatoes. Don’t move the pan, this is very important so that the potatoes can evenly brown. After 3-5 minutes, when they are browned flip potatoes and brown the other side, turn down the heat to medium low to evenly cook the potatoes. 5 Add capers, onions, mushrooms, bacon: Once the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, add the capers and let crisp up for a minute. Then combine the caramelized onions, mushrooms, and bacon to the large sauté pan with the browned potatoes. Re-warm over low heat. When hot, turn the heat off and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh picked tarragon. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

MEDITERRANEAN PURPLE POTATO FRITTATA
1 T extra-virgin olive oil, 1 large onion, cut into ¼-inch slices, 1-pound purple potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices, ½ tsp curry powder (optional), ¾ tsp sea salt, divided, 2 T minced fresh thyme, 8 whole eggs, ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
Heat a 10-inch, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add oil and arrange onion slices in skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and just tender, about 20 minutes. Arrange potato slices over onion and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water over vegetables, then sprinkle with curry (optional) and ¼ teaspoon salt, turning to coat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until potatoes are just fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Whisk eggs just to blend, and stir in ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Pour into skillet, sprinkle with thyme and arrange potato mixture in a single layer. Cook over medium heat, until set on bottom, about 10 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and broil 6 inches from heat source until browned at edges and set all the way through, 5 to 8 minutes. Recipe from Debby Maugans, food writer based in Asheville, North Carolina

QUICK PICKLED CARROTS
2 C water, 2 C cider vinegar, ½ C sugar (more or less to desired sweetness), 1/2t salt, 1 T mixed pickling spices 2+1/4# carrots, peeled and cut into desired sizes for container
Place all ingredients except carrots in a medium sized pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Prepare carrots and add to a pot of boiling water. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Drain carrots and place in prepared brine. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Place in jars or desired containers.
Makes approximately 2 quarts.

ROASTED CARROTS WITH TURMERIC COUSCOUS
1 1/4 lbs. medium carrots, halved lengthwise, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 tsp. curry powder, 2 3/4 cups chicken stock, 2 cups Israeli couscous, 1 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric, 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, thinned with 3 tbsp. water, torn fresh mint, 4 lemon wedges
On baking sheet, toss carrots, oil and curry powder; season with salt and pepper. Roast at 500° until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. In saucepan, boil stock. Add couscous and turmeric. Cover and simmer until tender, about 7 minutes; season. Top couscous with carrots, yogurt and mint. Serve with lemon wedges. Recipe from rachaelraymag.com

DILLY SLAW

4 cups shredded veggies (carrots, Hakurei turnips, radish, kohlrabi), 5 scallions chopped
Dressing: 3⁄4 cup yogurt or 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbs. lime juice, 2 Tbs. cider vinegar, 1 Tbs. honey, 1⁄4 cup dill, 1 tsp. salt, 3 garlic scapes or cloves of garlic, minced
Blend dressing and toss with veggies. If time, let chill and stir occasionally so the dressing can soak into the veggies. Recipe from Red Fire Farm, Granby MA

CURRIED CARROT AND SWEET POTATO SOUP
2 tablespoons olive oil; 3-4 carrots, peeled, ends removed, and cut into small pieces; 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 small onion, peeled and chopped; 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced; 2 tablespoons sweet curry powder; 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water, or as needed; 1/4 cup orange juice; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Chopped chives
Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, onion, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables are tender and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the curry powder and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth to cover the vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are fork tender, approximately 15 minutes.  Remove from heat and puree the mixture with a handheld blender, or transfer mixture to a blender or food processor in batches if necessary, and puree until texture is smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more broth or water. Transfer puree back to stock pot if necessary, and slowly whisk in orange juice. Heat through, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with chives to taste. Note: If you want to serve the soup cold, chill and top with crème fraiche or yogurt.
Serves 4-6; Recipe from Kristina Creighton.

RUTABAGA CARROT COLESLAW WITH BUTTERMILK GARLIC DRESSING
1 large or 2 medium rutabagas (about 1 pound); 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 large carrot (about 1/4 pound); salt and pepper to taste; 6-8 tablespoons Buttermilk Garlic dressing (recipe follows)
Peel rutabagas and carrot; cut into large chunks and shred in food processor or on very large grate holes of hand-held grater. Toss with remaining ingredients and chill hour.
Buttermilk Garlic Dressing: 1-2 medium cloves of garlic, 4T. minced green onion, 3T white wine vinegar, ½ c buttermilk, 1/3 c. sour cream, large pinch sugar, ½ c olive oil. Makes 4 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

BAKED HORSERADISH CARROTS
2 medium carrots, cut into 3-inch julienne strips, 2 T mayonnaise, 2 tsp grated onion, 2 tsp prepared horseradish, 1/8 tsp salt, dash pepper, 2 T crushed butter-flavored crackers, 1 tsp butter, melted, dash paprika
Place 1 in. of water in a small saucepan; add carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 7-9 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon liquid. Place carrots in a 2-cup baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, horseradish, salt, pepper and reserved liquid. Pour over carrots. Toss the cracker crumbs, butter and paprika; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.  Recipe form Tasteofhome.com

GERMAN-STYLE KOHLRABI
Salt, 4 kohlrabi, thinly sliced, 4 T butter, 2 T all-purpose flour, 1-pint half-and-half, whole nutmeg, for grating
Bring a 3 or 4-quart pot of water to a boil, and give it a good couple pinches of salt. Add the kohlrabi and boil until tender but not falling apart, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside on the plate you plan to serve the kohlrabi on. Melt the butter in the same pot, and then sprinkle the flour over. Whisk constantly until the flour is cooked and turns a light tan color, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the half-and-half, whisking the entire time. Turn the heat down to a simmer, and keep whisking until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Pour the hot sauce over the kohlrabi, and grate a dusting of nutmeg with a thin grater over the entire dish. Season with salt and serve! Recipe courtesy of Tamara Reynolds

KOHLRABI AND CARROTS
1medium kohlrabi, Peeled, chopped into 3/4-inch cubes (about 2 cups), 4large carrots, cut into chunks to match the size of the kohlrabi, 1⁄4teaspoon nutmeg, 1tablespoon butter (optional), salt and pepper
Cover the Kohlrabi and carrots with lightly salted water and boil until quite tender (about 15-20 minutes). Drain. Lightly mash, leave a lot of texture don’t try to make them smooth like mashed potatoes. Add nutmeg and butter. Serve. Recipe form GeniusKitchen.com

KOHLRABI FRIES
2 kohlrabi, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Preheat oven to 425°F. Wash the kohlrabi, then use a sharp paring knife or good vegetable peeler to peel. Cut them into thin strips. In a medium bowl, toss the kohlrabi fries with olive oil, chili powder and ground cumin, coating them evenly.  Spread the kohlrabi in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, flipping once, until they are soft and getting blistered and dark on the outside. Remove and eat warm.
Recipe from RachelRayShow.com

CREAMY KOHLRABI SOUP
2T butter, 1 onion; chopped, 1# kohlrabi; peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice, 2.5 C. vegetable broth, 2.5 C. milk, 1 bay leaf, 1 pinch of salt, grated black pepper to taste, ¼ C uncooked orzo pasta
Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Cook and stir onion in melted butter until soft, about 10 minutes. Add kohlrabi; cook and stir another 2 minutes. Pour vegetable broth and milk over the onion mixture. Add bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, place a cover on the pot, and reduce heat to low; cook at a simmer until kohlrabi is tender, about 25 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf; allow the soup to cool slightly. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway. Pulse the blender a few times before leaving on to puree. Work in batches until all soup is blended. Return pureed soup to stockpot; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle orzo pasta into the soup; cover the stockpot and simmer until the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes. Recipe from Allrecipes.com

CHILI ROASTED RUTABAGA
2T vegetable oil, 1½t chili powder. 1t onion powder, 1t garlic salt, 1/2t sugar, 1/2t paprika, ½ t cayenne, 1 ½ pounds rutabaga.
Heat oven to 400^0. Mix first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Peel rutabagas and cut them into chunks that are about 2inches long and ½-1 inch wide. Toss with spice mix. Transfer to large baking sheet, spreading pieces out evenly. Bake until tender and somewhat browned, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.
Makes 4-6 servings

RUTABAGA & POTATO PUREE
1 1/2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and cut into small chunks, 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks, 4 cloves garlic, peeled, Salt, to taste, 1/3 cup nonfat milk, scaled, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried, freshly ground white or black pepper, to taste
Place rutabagas and potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add garlic and season with salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the vegetables are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return the vegetables to the pan. Place the pan over low heat and toss for about 1 minute to dry the vegetables slightly. Mash the rutabagas, potatoes and garlic with a hand mixer or potato masher. Add enough milk to make a smooth puree. Stir in thyme and season with salt and pepper.
Serves 8; Recipe from Eating Well Magazine

CARROT AND RUTABAGA MASH
1# carrots peeled, and 1# rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces, 3T. butter, salt and pepper
Boil carrots and rutabaga until just soft. Smash together with a potato masher or food processor until it looks like a puree. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Recipe courtesy of Robert Irvine; Food Network

RUTABAGA “POTATO” SALAD
2 medium to large rutabaga, 1/4 -1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1/4 to 1/2 an onion, diced, 1-2 T sweet relish, garlic powder, salt, pepper
Other fun ingredients to try: salad greens, celeriac, celery salt, hard-boiled eggs, dill, dill seed, chopped dill pickle, raw bok choy, diced carrots, even some cooked potatoes mixed in! Clean, peel, and chop the rutabaga into cubes. Put into a pot, just cover with water, and boil until soft and edible, when a fork goes through easily. Drain water out. Rinse the rutabaga in cold water if you want to get it to be a cold salad. Mix in all other ingredients. You can soak the diced onions in warm water (or the rutabaga boiling water) to mellow them if you want. Adjust flavorings to taste. Chill in the fridge, or eat warm. Recipe from Red Fire farm

CREAM OF RUTABAGA SOUP
4slices bacon; 2medium onions, chopped; 2celery ribs, chopped; 2garlic cloves, minced; 2cups rutabagas, diced; 1medium potato, diced; 3cups chicken stock; 1tablespoon sugar; 1⁄4teaspoon pepper; 1⁄2teaspoon salt; 1cup milk (or 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream)
Cook bacon until crisp in a large pot. Remove bacon from pot, crumble and set aside. Sauté onions, celery and garlic in bacon grease for 5 minutes. Add rutabaga, potato, chicken stock, sugar, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Blend using hand blender in pot or blend in blender in batches. Return to pot if blended in blender. Stir in milk. Heat gently to serving temperature, do not boil. Garnish with bacon and enjoy.
Recipe from Genius Kitchen.com

SMOKED PAPRIKA AND RUTABAGA BISQUE
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped, 2 medium celery stalks, coarsely chopped, 1 1/2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 4 1/4 cups), 4 cups (1 quart) low-sodium vegetable broth, 2 cups half-and-half, 2 1/2 teaspoons high-quality smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once butter foams, add onion and celery, and season generously with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender but not browned, about 5 minutes. 2Add rutabaga and broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until rutabaga is tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes. Add half-and-half, paprika, and white pepper and stir to combine. 3Allow soup to cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth. (You will have to do this in batches.) Taste and season with more salt and white pepper as needed. Recipe from Chowhound.com

SPICY PICKLED RUTABAGA
2 pounds rutabagas, 1/4 cup salt (kosher or other non-iodized salt), 1 quart water plus 1/2 cup , divided), 1 pint apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 lemon (juiced), 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika is great here if you have it), 1/2 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
Slice off the stem and root ends of the rutabagas, and peel, using a paring knife rather than a vegetable peeler to peel them. The thick, tough skin of the rutabaga may be more than a normal vegetable peeler can handle. Cut the peeled rutabagas into approximately 1/2-inch planks, then again into 1/2-inch batons, about the size and length of French fries. Make a salt brine by dissolving the salt in 1 quart of water. Add the rutabaga strips to the salt brine, and let them soak for 4 hours or overnight. If necessary, cover with a plate to keep them submerged. Drain the rutabagas in a colander. Discard the brine. Pack the rutabagas tightly into clean canning jars. (It is not necessary to sterilize the jars for this recipe). Make sure the pieces of rutabaga are short enough to allow for at least 1/2-inch head space between the top of the food and the rim of the jars. You want the vegetables to be really packed in tight so that they won’t float up out of the final pickling brine. In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, the remaining 1/2 cup of water, and honey. Bring to a boil, and then immediately turn off the heat. While the vinegar brine is coming to a boil, toast the cumin and mustard seeds in a dry skillet over low heat for 2 minutes or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Stir the toasted cumin and mustard seeds, paprika, coriander and cayenne into the vinegar brine. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour the brine into the jars. The rutabagas should be completely submerged in the brine, but there still needs to be 1/2 inch of air between the surface of the brine and the rims of the jars. Secure canning lids, and process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Like most pickles, these will be edible immediately, but the flavor will continue to develop and improve with at least a week or two to cure.
Recipe form thespruceeats.com

SPANISH GREENS
2 tablespoons olive oil; salt and pepper to taste; 3 cloves garlic, flattened or smashed with the flat of a knife; 1/4 cup golden raisins; 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts; 1-pound spinach, chard, collards, or other greens, stemmed and well washed
Heat oil over high flame in very large skillet. Add garlic cloves and stir-fry until golden, about 30 seconds. Discard garlic. Toss in greens. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; wilt greens 2-3 minutes. Add raisins and pine nuts. Check for seasoning and serve. Makes 2-4 servings. MACSAC

CASHEW SALAD
3 c mixture of three kinds of lettuce, such as red leaf, romaine and Boston, washed and torn into bite-size pieces; 1/2 c cashews
For dressing: 1/4 small red onion, grated; 1/8 c vinegar; 1/4 c sugar; pinch of ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp celery seed; 1 tsp prepared mustard; 3/8 C (6 T) olive oil
Toss lettuce with cashews.  Place onion, vinegar, sugar, pepper, celery seed, mustard and oil in jar with tight lid. Shake vigorously to emulsify, or blend in blender. When ready to serve, toss salad with half the dressing, then add more, to taste, or serve dressing on side. Makes about 3 servings

GARDEN GREENS AND CITRUS SALAD
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts; 1 orange; 1 pink grapefruit; 8-10 oz  lettuces; 1 tbsp white vinegar; 1/8 tsp salt; Freshly ground pepper; 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tsp honey; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese; 2 or 3 thin slices sweet red onion, separated into rings
Preheat an oven to 325°F. Spread out the nuts on a baking sheet and bake until they begin to change color, 6-8 minutes. Watch carefully so they do not burn. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Peel and section the orange and grapefruit. Set aside. Wash and dry lettuces thoroughly, and tear into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl. In a small bowl, stir together the vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste until the salt dissolves. Add the olive oil and honey and whisk until well blended. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Drizzle the dressing over the lettuce and toss to coat well. Divide the lettuce among individual plates. Arrange the orange and grapefruit segments among the leaves. Sprinkle on the feta cheese and nuts, scatter on the onion rings, and serve.

CARAMELIZED ONION QUESADILLAS
4 tablespoons (l/2 stick) butter; 1 large onion, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon light brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar; 4 flour tortillas, 10 inches in diameter; 1l/2 cups grated smoked Gouda cheese; Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion, brown sugar, and vinegar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the tortillas on a work surface. Sprinkle cheese over half of each tortilla, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle the sautéed onion over the cheese. Season to taste with pepper. Fold the other half of each tortilla over the cheese mixture. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and brush the tortillas with some of it. Brush a heavy, large skillet with some of the remaining melted butter. Place over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the quesadillas just until brown spots appear, brushing the skillet with butter between batches, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the quesadillas to a heavy, large baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes, until the tortillas are golden and the cheese melts. Transfer the quesadillas to a work surface. Cut each into 6 wedges. Arrange on a platter and serve hot.
Serves 4-6.  Recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS
2# onion sliced, 1T. olive oil, 1T butter, 1T chopped fresh herbs, such as rosemary, sage, thyme, savory (opt.), salt and pepper to taste.
Toss onions in hot oil in skillet over medium heat until oil coats onions. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, 15 minutes.  Stir in herbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring frequently, until onions are golden brown, about 10. Use as a topping for a vegetable, meat or pizza.