Winter Share Five January 26th 2023

Posted by on Jan 26, 2023 in Uncategorized

  Important information:

  • This is a biweekly share only. The next monthly and biweekly share is Thursday Feb 9th.
  • Please return your share boxes.
  • Summer share enrollment on-line @ https://promisedlandcsa.com/csa/sign-up/ Don’t delay-enroll today!

Farm News from Jane
The weather has been quite a bit milder and with just enough snow on Sunday to make snowmen! Here on the farm, we appreciate a covering of snow to hide the mud or we hope at least for temperatures cold enough to make the ground “stiff”. Feeding cows and turning compost can be a bit messy as the tractor leaves ruts and mud behind its path. The pond however has frozen well enough to think about ice skating; another reason to enjoy being outside. Thank goodness that they make ice skates that span three sizes. Kid’s feet grow a lot in one year and we certainly don’t want anyone to miss out because their skates “got too small”! And although the holiday celebrations have come to an end we have a few more winter birthdays to celebrate. Yea!
Ben continues to work on projects and do maintenance on equipment and inside, the pile of office work is starting to shrink a bit. The days are growing longer and soon there’ll be more visible sun to light up our days. By next distribution we’ll cross the ten-hour mark and that’s when plants growth starts begins to gain some speed. Of course, they still need an optimum temperature of 50-60 degrees under their blankets of row covers. And on a sunny day it gets even warmer.
The seeds are arriving and that means we will be ready to begin seeding vegetables in the hot greenhouse. That first day is always exciting; a few new varieties and lots of old favorites that grow well in our soil.  The improvements that Ben has made over the last few years makes the space to work in very pleasant and efficient. Tasks are always more enjoyable if the working environment is clean, neat and organized. We hope that everyone has signed up for a summer share while there’s still time. We wouldn’t want anyone to miss out.                          Until next time, may you find sunshine along your way, Jane

Produce:   Garlic   Cooking onions   Napa cabbage   green Kohlrabi   Rutabaga
Chioggia beets   Carnival squash   Butternut squash   Red potatoes

Produce tips:
– Garlic; we have shared some of the separated garlic that was intended for planting but we ran out of space in the field. Most of them are large separated cloves. Place all garlic received in the brown paper bag in the crisper bin in the refrigerator. It will keep fresher longer as it was such a dry summer the storage garlic is quite dry this winter.
– Napa cabbage should be bagged before refrigerating. Use fresh for a salad or as a quick stir fry addition. I really like the Raemen noodle salad recipe.
– Kohlrabi can become a favorite with recipes like Kohlrabi Parmesan. Check out the recipe suggestions.
– Winter squash season is coming to an end. This may be the last share for this season. Enjoy!

Recipes
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and cube one butternut squash. Add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil to coat. Put squash on a baking sheet and roast until tender, about 30 minutes. This is also a great cooking method for potatoes, carrots, rutabagas and garlic.

THAI SQUASH
Oil or butter; 1 cup diced onions; 1 Tbsp grated gingerroot; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 hot pepper (fresh or dried), minced; 1/3 can (14 ounces) coconut milk; 1 Tbsp minced fresh basil; 2 cups peeled squash, in 3/4-inch cubes
Heat oil in large skillet; add onions, gingerroot, garlic, and peppers. Cook over low heat until tender. Add coconut milk and basil; cook until thickened. Meanwhile, boil squash in 4 cups water for 12-15 minutes. Drain. Combine with other. ingredients and serve. Makes 4 Servings. Recipe from Dave French, Madison CSA supporter

WINTER SQUASH, ONION, AND SAFFRON RISOTTO
5-6 cups chicken stock, 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, pulverized, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2-1 cup finely chopped onion, 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice, 2/3 cup dry white wine, 2-3 cups cooked, pureed winter squash, 3/4-1 cup grated Parmesan, Romano, or asiago cheese, salt and pepper
Bring stock and saffron to a simmer in saucepan. Heat olive oil in large, heavy saucepan. Add onions; cook over medium low heat until softened, several minutes. Raise heat to medium-high and stir in rice. Keep stirring rice 1·2 minutes, then add wine. Stir and cook until nearly all the wine has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add two ladleful’s hot stock (enough to barely cover the rice); stir frequently until most is absorbed. Continue to add stock a ladleful at a time and stir very frequently until nearly absorbed. Risotto is done when rice is barely tender and mixture is creamy; this should take 25-35 minutes. (Adjust heat if rice is absorbing liquid too quickly.) Stir in squash during last 10 minutes. Fold in most of the grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, with a little more cheese on top of each serving. Makes 6-8 servings.
Recipe from MACSAC

EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
2 T butter or olive oil, 3-4 cloves garlic, mashed with side of thick knife, 1/2-1 C chopped onion, 2 1/2-3 lbs. butternut squash, halved, seeded, and baked until soft, 4 C chicken stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in 4 cups hot water, 1 bay leaf, pinch of sugar, 1/2 t or more curry powder, pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cups milk
Heat butter or olive oil in large saucepan over medium flame. Add garlic and onions; cook, stirring often, 7-10 minutes. Puree the cooked squash in a food processor and stir into onion mixture. Stir in stock, bay leaf, sugar, curry powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Add the milk; heat but don’t boil. This is adapted from The Complete Book of Soups and Stews, by Bernard Clayton.
Serves 6; Recipe from Linda Taylor, Good Earth Farm

WINTER SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
1 small winter squash, 1-3 teaspoons butter or olive oil, 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen), 2-3 tablespoons raspberry jam or puree
Peel winter squash, chop flesh into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes, and steam over boiling water until soft but not mushy. Heat butter or olive oil in heavy skillet over medium flame. Toss in cranberries and stir frequently until they soften. Mash in skillet with fork or potato masher. Stir in jam. When squash is done, toss it with the cranberry mixture, Makes 4-8 servings. Recipe from Linda Taylor, Good Earth Farm

SWEET ‘N’ SPICY SQUASH CAKE
3 Cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ Tsp baking powder; 1 ¼ Tsp baking soda; 1/2 Tsp each ground allspice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; 10 Tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces; 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar; 1/2 Cup light brown sugar; 2 Eggs; 1/2 Cup milk; 1/4 Cup orange juice; 3/4 Cup cooked Winter Squash; 1 Tsp vanilla extract; Butter-Cream Icing
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices. Place the butter in a mixing bowl, sprinkle in the sugars and beat until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Mix together the milk and orange juice; let stand for 5 minutes, and then stir in the squash puree and vanilla extract. Add the milk and squash mixture to the creamed butter alternately with the sifted dry ingredients, a little of each at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Spoon the batter into a greased and floured tube pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes; the cake is done when it springs back after pressing lightly with the fingers. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature before frosting. YIELD: ENOUGH TO SERVE 10 TO 12

PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BACON
3 cups fresh butternut squash or Pumpkin, peeled and cubed; 1 onion, cubed; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/4-pound bacon, cubed; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 clove garlic, minced; Fresh rosemary; 1 box (13 ounces) whole grain or regular penne; Fresh parsley; 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
Cook in boiling salted water to cover until it is just tender. Drain and place half of the squash into a food processor with a little salt and pepper. Puree. Cook bacon in a large skillet until it’s just golden. Remove from skillet and drain. Wipe out the skillet and add a few drops of olive oil. Place onion and remaining ‘squash in the skillet and cook just until the onion turns golden. Add garlic and rosemary. Heat through. Add the squash puree. In the meantime, cook the penne until it is tender. Drain, reserving some of the water, add penne to the squash mixture adding a little of the reserved water if the sauce seems too thick. Serve immediately, drizzling a little of the balsamic vinegar over the top. Garnish with parsley.
Recipe adapted from Barilla chef Nicola Bindini.

PUMPKIN COOKIES
1 cup butter or margarine; 1 1/4 cups brown sugar; 2 eggs; l tsp vanilla; 2 cups cooked pumpkin; 4 3/4 cups flour; 1 tbsp cinnamon; 2 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp baking soda; 2 tsp nutmeg; 1/2 cup raisins Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Cream butter or margarine and brown sugar. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin. Mix dry ingredients separately, then stir into first mixture. Stir in raisins. Drop by spoonsful onto cookie sheets. Bake 15 minutes. Recipe from Scotch Hill Farm

BAKED CARNIVAL SQUASH
1 carnival squash; 3 T olive oil; 1/2 cup chopped bacon; 1 garlic clove, crushed; ¼ cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes; 1 tbsp chopped sage; ¼ cup mascarpone cheese; 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese; salt and pepper
Cut the sweet dumpling in half. Scoop out the seeds and fibers. Place the squash in a roasting pan. Brush the inside of the squash with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 20 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and fry the pancetta or bacon until crisp and golden. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and sage and cook for 2 minutes. Pile the mixture into the squash shells. Spoon on the mascarpone and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven for a further 20 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread and a leafy salad. Serves 2

STUFFED SQUASH
1 squash, cut in half and cooked; 1 cup cooked rice; ½ tbsp butter; ¾ cup minced onion; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 medium apple, diced; 1 ½ orange, sectioned; ¼ tsp cinnamon; ¼ tsp allspice or cloves; ½ tsp salt; 1 tbsp honey; ½ chopped almonds
Melt butter in a medium skillet. Add onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add garlic, apples, oranges and spices, and sauté over medium heat about 5 minutes more. The orange sections may fall apart, but that’s okay. Add the sauté to the rice and mix well. Season to taste with salt and honey. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill the prebaked squash halves and top with chopped nuts. Bake uncovered until heated through- about 20 to 30 minutes.

DIJON ROASTED BEETS
3 lbs. beets, uniform in size (about 2 inches); 4 Tbsp olive oil, divided; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard; Juice of one orange; 1 tsp sugar; 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 Tbsp fresh minced rosemary
Trim beets of all but 1/2-inch stem and root. Place beets in roasting pan; add 1 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast at 400 degrees 45 minutes or until beets are tender. Whisk mustard, orange juice, sugar, and vinegar in bowl. Whisk in remaining 3 Tbsp olive oil and rosemary. Set aside. When beets are cool enough to handle, rub to remove skin cut into quarters. Add warm beets to bowl and toss with dressing. Let stand 30 minutes while beets absorb dressing. Makes 8 servings

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

ROASTED BEET SALAD
6-8 small beets, scrubbed, tops trimmed to 1 inch; 4 tbsp white wine vinegar; olive oil; 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; salt and pepper to taste; 4 cups baby salad greens; 1/4 cup pecans; 1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Heat outdoor or indoor grill. Place beets on heavy foil; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly; grill until beets can be easily pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, toast pecans in a dry pan on the grill, tossing frequently. Finely chop the nuts. When beets are cooled a bit, use a paper towel to remove the peel, stems, and tails. Cut beets into quarters. Combine mustard and vinegar in a bowl. Whisk in olive oil until thickened. Add salt and pepper. Toss salad greens in a bowl with a little dressing. Portion the greens onto 2-4 plates. Top with beets, onions, blue cheese, and pecans. Drizzle with as much more dressing as you like. Makes 2·4 servings.
Recipe from Jenny Bonde and Rink DaVee, Shooting Star Farm

SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE (CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE)
2 C. cooked chopped beets, ½ c. applesauce, 1+1/2 c. sugar, ½ c. oil, ½ c. plain yogurt, 3 eggs, 1+1/2 t. vanilla, 1+1/2 c. flour, 1 c. whole wheat flour, ½ c. baking cocoa, 1+1/2 t. baking soda, ½ t. salt, ½ c. chocolate chips (I prefer mini chips), powdered sugar or your favorite glaze or frosting
Prepare beets by cooking, peeling, and chopping them. Combine with applesauce and puree with a hand blender or in a standing blender. Set aside. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. For 2 minutes. Add half the dry ingredients and incorporate slowly, alternating with the beet/applesauce mixture until everything is blended. Pour half the batter into greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips, then pour the remaining batter on top. Bake @ 3500 for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in pan on rack.
From Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook by Mark Beach & Julie Kauffman

RUSSIAN CABBAGE BORSCHT
1+1/2 c. thinly sliced potato, 1 c. thinly sliced beets, 4 c. water, 1-2 T butter 11/2c chopped onion, 1 scant tsp. caraway seeds, 11/2 t sp. salt (or more to taste), 1 stalk celery, chopped, 1 medium-sizes carrot, sliced, 3-4 cups shredded cabbage, freshly ground pepper, 1 t. dill (plus extra for garnish), 1-2 T cider vinegar, 1-2 T brown sugar or maple syrup, 1 c tomato puree Toppings: sour cream or yogurt and extra dill
Place potatoes, beets, and water in a medium-sized saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until tender (20-30 minutes). Meanwhile melt the butter in a kettle or Dutch oven. Add onion, caraway seeds, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent. (8-10 minutes). Add celery, carrots, and cabbage plus 2 cups of the cooking water from the potatoes and beets. Cover and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender (another 8-10 minutes). Add the remaining ingredients (including all the potato and beet water), cover, and simmer for at least 15 more minutes. Taste to correct seasonings, and serve hot, topped with sour cream or yogurt and a light dusting of dill.
Recipe for the New Moosewood Cookbook

LENTIL & ROASTED BEET SALAD
Salad: 1 pound beets (about 3 medium), 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 cup de Puy lentils (small, slate-green lentils from France; but it works using regular lentils), 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided, 1 whole bay leaf (dried or fresh), 2 large cloves of garlic, peeled & smashed, 1/2 medium onion, studded with a whole clove, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning to taste
1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley, freshly ground black pepper to taste, 6 cups mixed baby greens, 6 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Dressing (makes 1/2 cup): 3 Tablespoons sherry vinegar, 2 Tablespoons whole-grain mustard, 1 tsp kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 medium shallots, minced
Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim all but 1 inch of the beet stems. Put the beets on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and seal the foil to make a tight package. Put the package in a small roasting pan. Roast the beets until easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them- the skins should slide right off with a bit of pressure from your fingers. If they don’t, use a paring knife to scrape off any bits that stick. Dice the beets and set aside. While you roast the beets, spread the lentils on a pan and pick out any pebbles or other foreign matter; rinse and drain. Put the lentils in a saucepan with cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Add 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary and the bay leaf to the pan, along with the smashed garlic, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Strain the lentils and discard garlic and onion. While lentils are simmering, prepare the salad dressing: Whisk vinegar with mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick vinaigrette. Stir in the shallots. Use immediately or refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days. Put the warm lentils in a bowl and stir in half of the dressing. Cool the lentils completely, then add the beets, parsley, and remaining 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Lightly dress the greens with a bit of the dressing and divide among 6 plates. Spoon some of the lentil salad onto the greens, crumble goat cheese over each serving, and drizzle with some of the remaining vinaigrette.

 

BEET CARPACCIO

For salad: 1 lb. beets (preferably Chioggia), trimmed and peeled, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 small red onion, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup roasted pistachio nutmeats, 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled; 1/4 cup greens

For dressing: 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, 1 teaspoon superfine sugar, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt and white pepper

Thinly slice the beets with a mandolined slicer.  Place the slices into a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup lemon juice.  Set aside. (The lemon juice will help preserve the color of the beets when you cook them, so let them sit at least 10 minutes while you prep everything else.) Make the dressing: Mix together vinegar, sour cream, tarragon, and sugar with a wire whisk until well-blended.  Slowly add the olive oil, while whisking constantly.  (This creates an emulsion).  Add salt and white pepper to taste.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Bring water to a boil in a large pot that has a steamer tray.  If you like, add salt and a splash of lemon juice to the water.  Once boiling, place beet slices on the streamer tray (it’s alright if they overlap slightly).  Cover and steam for 5-6 minutes, or until tender yet firm.  Briefly shock the beets in an ice bath, then drain.  Layer the beets and onions on four small plates.  Sprinkle with pistachios and feta cheese crumbles.  Make sure the dressing is well-stirred, then lightly drizzle over the salad. Top with microgreens. Recipe from Restaurant Widow; Serves 4

SWEET AND SOUR BEETS IN WHITE WINE

1/3 c. plus 1 tbsp. cider vinegar, 1/3 c. water, 1/3 c. sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch, Dash of ground cloves, 2 tbsp. dry white wine, 1/2 tsp. butter, 2 c. cooked, sliced beets

In a medium saucepan, combine the first 5 ingredients. Cook over a medium heat until the mixture thickens. Add beets, wine, butter and heat thoroughly. Remove from heat and let stand at least 30 minutes. Reheat just before serving. Recipe form Cook.com

BEET, GINGER, AND COCONUT MILK SOUP
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, diced, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger, 3 large red beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces, 5 cups vegetable stock, divided, 1 can (14.5 ounces) low-fat coconut milk, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Parsley (optional), Canned julienned beets (optional), Crusty bread
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add beets and 4 cups stock; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until beets are fork-tender, 20 minutes. With an immersion or regular blender, puree soup, adding remaining 1 cup stock as needed to reach desired consistency. Stir in milk, salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and julienned beets and serve with bread, if desired.

Recipe from http://www.epicurious.com


RAW BEET AND APPLE SALAD

For the Salad:1 bunch of Chioggia beets, 2 medium size apples, 1 handful of mixed salad leaves, ⅓ c. fresh basil, zest of 1 lime

For the Dressing: ½ c. goat cheese, 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp. milk, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. honey
For the dressing: Zest your lime and reserve it for the salad. Blitz all of the salad dressing ingredients in a mini food processor (you can also do this by hand with a whisk and room temperature goat cheese). Season with salt and pepper to taste. The flavor should be tangy with a hint of sweetness. For the salad: Get yourself a large bowl. Trim and peel your beets with a vegetable peeler. If the tops look good, wash them and save for stir frys and salads. Thinly slice beets with a mandolin. Thinly slice your apples and keep them stacked. Cut vertically into matchsticks. Add the beets and apples to the bowl. Add a little dressing and season with salt and pepper. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so to soften. Tear up the basil leaves. Add the basil and salad leaves to the bowl. Give it a good toss and taste to see if it needs more seasoning or dressing. Evenly sprinkle the lime zest on top. Serve straight away.

Notes: The key to this dish is to slice everything as thin as possible and let it marinate in the bowl for a bit. Using a mandolin is perfect for this. The acidity from the dressing softens the beets, kind of like coleslaw. If it’s too chunky, it’s going to be too crunchy.
* Refrigerate any extra goat cheese dressing in an airtight container. It will keep for about a week.
Recipe from the Clevercarrot.com

KOHLRABI PARMESAN
3 medium kohlrabi, trimmed of stalks and leaves; 2 T unsalted butter; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese; salt and pepper, to taste; 1 T minced parsley
Peel kohlrabi 1/8 in deep. Shred with grater or food processor. Cook kohlrabi in butter over medium heat, stirring often, until tender, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese, salt and pepper. Toss and cook just until the cheese melts, about 1 minute. Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately. 4 servings.

CREAMY KOHLRABI SOUP
2T butter, 1 onion; chopped, 1# kohlrabi; peeled and cut into ½-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

KOHLRABI SLAW
2 cups chopped cabbage, 4 kohlrabi, peeled and grated, 2 carrots, grated, 2 T minced fresh onion, 1/4 C white sugar, ½ t salt, 1/8 t ground black pepper, 1/8 t celery seed, ½ C mayonnaise, 2 T apple cider vinegar
Toss the cabbage, kohlrabi, celery, carrot, and onion together in a large bowl. Whisk the sugar, salt, pepper, celery seed, mayonnaise, and vinegar together in a separate bowl until smooth; pour over the cabbage mixture and stir to coat evenly. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour before serving. May vary the amounts of each veggie depending on what is on hand!

KOHLRABI AND POTATO SALAD WITH HORSERADISH
1 or 2 Kohlrabi peeled, 2 medium Potatoes, 2 to 4 tablespoons sour cream, 2 teaspoons chopped dill, Salt and freshly milled pepper , Prepared horseradish in vinegar

Slice the kohlrabi into julienne strips or wedges. Steam until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Coarsely cube potatoes and boil until tender. Then put potatoes and kohlrabi in a bowl and toss with sour cream, horseradish, and dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Recipe form Red Fire Farm, Granby MA

KOHLRABI AND CARROTS
1medium kohlrabi, Peeled, chopped into 3/4-inch cubes (about 2 cups), 4 large carrots, cut into chunks to match the size of the kohlrabi, 1⁄4 teaspoon 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

KOHLRABI PANCAKES WITH FLAXSEEDS

1 pound kohlrabi (peeled), 3 tbsp ground flaxseed (whir whole ones in a blender or processor until ground), 2 tbsp flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 carrot, 1 tbsp oil for frying (coconut oil is tasty)
Grate the kohlrabi and carrot (a food processor makes it easy). In a large bowl, mix the ground flaxseed, flour and salt. Then add the grated carrot and kohlrabi and mix. With your hands, form smallish patties about 1/2 inch thick. Cook in a frying pan with the oil until each side is golden brown. Add more oil if needed between rounds of pancakes. I love the way the ground flaxseed holds these together! You could also get them to hold together with egg if you don’t have flaxseed. You could probably finely chop kohlrabi greens too, and add those in to this. Recipe from red Fire Farm

ROASTED KOHLRABI
4 kohlrabi bulbs, peeled; 1T olive oil, 1 clove garlic, minced, salt and pepper to taste, 1/3C grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees. Cut the kohlrabi into ¼-inch thick slices, then cut each of the slices in half. Combine olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss kohlrabi slices in the olive oil mixture to coat. Spread kohlrabi in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally in order to brown evenly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven to allow the Parmesan cheese to brown, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Recipe from AllRecipes.com

ASIAN PEANUT NOODLE SLAW WITH SHREDDED CHICKEN
Cook 4 oz. spaghetti according to package directions about ten minutes. Drain and rinse to cool. In a large bowl, whisk 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup water, 3 T each seasoned rice vinegar and lime juice, 1 T packed brown sugar, 1T low sodium soy sauce and 1 tsp. (or to taste) siracha until smooth. Add spaghetti, 21/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 6 cups shredded cabbage, 2 cups shredded carrots, 3 thinly sliced scallions and 1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro or parsley. Toss well. Scatter ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts over the top. Recipe form FAMILYCIRCLE.COM

BALSAMIC ROASTED CARROTS
1 T olive oil, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ½# carrots, 2T balsamic vinegar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and carrots in a bag or bowl; toss to coat. Pour the carrots into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle the balsamic vinegar over the carrots; shake the pan to coat evenly. Return to oven and bake until the liquid is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Recipe from Allrecipe.com

ROASTED CARROTS
12 carrots, 3 tablespoons good olive oil, 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or parsley
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. If the carrots are thick, cut them in half lengthwise; if not, leave whole. Slice the carrots diagonally in 1 1/2-inch-thick slices. (The carrots will shrink while cooking so make the slices big.) Toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a sheet pan in 1 layer and roast in the oven for 20 minutes, until browned and tender. Toss the carrots with minced dill or parsley, season to taste, and serve. Recipe from Ina Garten Foodnetwork.com

CARROT SALAD
1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley, 1 teaspoon, Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 bag (10 ounces) shredded carrots, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1 small red onion, chopped, 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
Combine olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, mustard, salt and sugar in small bowl. Combine carrots, cranberries, onion and almonds in large bowl. Add dressing. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
HERB-ROASTED RED POTATOES
1-pound red potatoes, cut in 11/2- inch pieces; 1-4 cloves garlic, chopped; 3-4 tablespoons of your favorite fresh herb: Chopped parsley, rosemary, thyme, fennel, dill, 3-4 tablespoons olive oil; salt and pepper to taste
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat potatoes with other ingredients and spread out on a shallow baking dish. Roast until tender, 40-45 minutes. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from Patricia Schindler

SPICY OVEN FRIES
3 # potatoes, 2-3 Tbsp olive oil; spice mix; 4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
Spice Mix: 1 tsp. salt, 1/2tsp oregano, 1/2tsp garlic powder, 1/4tsp chili powder, 1/4tsp pepper Hint; when mixing spices, I multiply by 8 so that I have the spice mix on hand for quicker do ahead preparation. If doing smaller quantity of potatoes try using a scant tsp of spice mix with 1 T of cheese to each pound of potatoes. Chop or slice potatoes as desired. Toss with olive oil to coat. Mix spices and parmesan cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

ROASTED POTATOES WITH SOUTHWESTERN SPICES
Cut potatoes into bite sized pieces coat with olive oil. Roast in 4250 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.

KOHLRABI-POTATO CUSTARD
2 c. cubed peeled kohlrabi bulbs (2 medium); 3 medium potatoes 1/4 tsp. paprika; 6 drops Worcestershire sauce; 3 to 4 slices bacon; 3 eggs, separated; 1/3 c. milk; 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
Cook kohlrabi in boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Peel and halve potatoes; cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain vegetables; combine and mash, or put through ricer. Add paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Broil or fry bacon until crisp; crumble into the vegetables along with 1/4 c. drippings. Beat egg yolks; add milk and red pepper; thoroughly mix with vegetables, whipping as for mashed potatoes. Let cool slightly. Beat egg whites stiff and fold into vegetables. Heap lightly into greased 2-qt. baking dish, set in pan of hot water, and bake in slow oven (325°) 40 to 50 minutes, or until risen and delicately browned. Makes 8 servings

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

SPICY POTATO WEDGES WITH CHILI DIP

2 baking potatoes, about 8 ounces each; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 teaspoon ground allspice; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 tablespoon paprika; salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the dip: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove, crushed; 7-ounce can chopped tomatoes; 1 fresh red Chile, seeded and finely chopped; 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, plus extra to garnish
1 Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash the potatoes. Cut them in half and then into 8 wedges. Place the potato wedges in a saucepan of cold water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes have softened slightly. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels. Mix the oil, garlic, allspice, coriander and paprika in a roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper. Add the potatoes and shake to coat thoroughly. Roast for 20 minutes, turning occasionally. Meanwhile, make the Chile dip. Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 5-10 minutes, until soft and golden. Add the tomatoes with their juice and stir in the Chile and vinegar.  Cook gently for 10 minutes, until the mixture has reduced and thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the cilantro and serve hot, with the potato wedges. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and garnish with cilantro.
Serves 2; Recipe from Vegetarian the best ever recipe collection.

HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD

1 ½ lb. of potatoes, (about 4 medium), cut into halves, 3 slices of bacon, 1 medium onion, 1T. flour, 1T. sugar, 1 t. salt, ¼ t. celery seed, dash of pepper, ½ c. water, ¼ c. vinegar

Heat one-inch salted water (1/2 t. salt to 1 cup water) to boiling. Add potatoes. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and cook until tender, 20-25, minutes, drain and cool. Fry bacon in 8-inch skillet until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cook and stir onion in bacon fat until tender. Stir in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in water and vinegar. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Crumble bacon into hot mixture, then slice in warm potatoes. Cook, stirring gently to coat potato slices, until hot and bubbly. Serves 5-6; recipe from the Betty Crocker Cookbook. A family favorite of ours!

 

FABULOUS GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

2 1/2 # potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 in. chunks, 3 garlic cloves peeled, 1 t. salt. plus, additional to taste, 2/3 C chicken broth, ¼ C sour cream, ¼ t freshly ground pepper, 1/8 t grated nutmeg

Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat and add 1 t salt. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook until the potatoes are tender about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes, return then to a pot, and place over low heat for about 1 minute until thoroughly dry. Transfer to a large bowl, or leave them in the saucepan to mash. Add the broth to the potatoes, and mash with a potato masher or handheld electric mixer to make a smooth puree. Add the sour cream and continue to mash until the potatoes are light and fluffy. Season with pepper, nutmeg and salt to taste. Makes four side dish servings; recipe form AMA’s Family Health Cookbook

NAPA CABBAGE SALAD
5 cups chopped Napa cabbage; 3/4 c. sliced or shredded radishes, 11/2 cups chow mein noodles (the crunchy ones); 1 cup crushed peanuts; 1/4 cup sesame seeds (black, if available); 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 4 tablespoons sesame oil; 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2-1 teaspoon dry mustard
Combine cabbage, radishes, chow mein noodles, peanuts, and sesame seeds. Mix remaining ingredients. Toss with cabbage, using just enough dressing to suit your taste. Makes 6-8 servings.
Recipe from Dog Hollow Farm

GADO GADO
9 ounces Chinese cabbage, shredded; 4 carrots, cut into matchsticks; 4 bok choy ribs, cut into matchsticks; 9 ounces (4 cups) bean sprouts; fried onion, salted peanuts and sliced fresh hot pepper, to garnish
For the peanut sauce: 1 tablespoon oil; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove; crushed; 1 small piece galangal, peeled and grated; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon tamarind paste or lime juice; 4 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
Steam the cabbage, carrots and bok choy for 3-4 minutes, until just tender. Let cool. Spread out the bean sprouts on a large serving dish. Arrange the cabbage, carrots, bok choy on top. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in the galangal and spices and cook for 1 minute. Add the tamarind paste or lime juice, peanut butter and sugar. Mix well. COOK’S TIP ~ As long as the sauce remains the same, the vegetables can be altered at the whim of the cook and reflect the contents a/the vegetable bin. Heat the sauce gently, stirring occasionally and adding a little hot water, if necessary, to make the sauce runny enough to coat the vegetables when poured. Spoon a little of the sauce over the vegetables and toss lightly together. Garnish with fried onion, peanuts and sliced hot pepper. Serve the rest of the sauce separately in a bowl. Serves 4

SALAD GREENS WITH CHINESE SALAD DRESSING
1/3 cup sesame or olive oil; 1 teaspoon minced garlic, pressed to a paste; 1-2 teaspoons grated fresh gingerroot or 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger; dash of cayenne; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon sesame seeds; 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, salad greens or Chinese cabbage
Mix all ingredients (except greens); toss with greens. This is also good with Napa cabbage, bok choy, snow peas, or cucumbers. Makes 1/2 cup dressing. Recipe from Oak Ridge Farm

STIR-FRIED CABBAGE
2 tbsp oil; 1 medium-size onion, sliced; 8 cups coarsely shredded cabbage; 1 tsp celery seed; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp coriander 1/4 tsp salt. Heat oil to medium-hot in large skillet or wok. Stir-fry onion in oil for a minute or two, then add cabbage and seasonings. Stir-fry for 5 to 10 minutes until cabbage is tender but firm. Pan may be covered briefly toward the end of the cooking process to hasten tenderizing. Serve immediately.
Yield: 4 servings

NAPA CABBAGE SALAD WITH PEANUTS AND CILANTRO
The Salad: 1/2 C skinned raw peanuts; 1 tsp peanut oil; 1 large carrot; 4 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage; 2 cups slivered lettuce leaves; 3 thin scallions, including some of the greens, finely sliced diagonally; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves; 2 tablespoons torn basil leaves, preferably Thai basil
The Dressing: 1/2 jalapeno Chile, finely diced; 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 cup roasted peanut oil
Heat the peanuts in the oil over medium-low heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned after a few minutes. Blot with paper towels and set aside. Peel the carrot with a vegetable peeler and discard the skins. Then, with the vegetable peeler, continue removing long strips of the carrot until you’ve reached the core. Combine the cabbage, lettuce, and carrot with everything except the nuts. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and toss with the greens. Add the peanuts just before serving.
Serves 4-6 Recipe from Local Flavors.

HEARTY ASIAN NOODLE SALAD
1 cabbage, small or medium, shredded or chopped medium fine, 2 lb. grated carrot, 1 or 2 grated turnips or daikon, A full bulb garlic, minced or pressed, a large finger sized chunk of ginger, finely grated or minced, 4 Tbsp. Sesame oil, 3 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar, ¼ cup raw or toasted sesame seeds, 3-5 cups cooked pasta, 2/3 cup soy sauce (preferably not low sodium, but whatever you need to do…)
The best part about this recipe is that it can be assembled in any order. It requires kind of a large bowl, of course you could always half the recipe (or double it!). The roots do not need to be peeled, only washed. Cook the pasta until al dente, then strain and rinse thoroughly with cold water before adding to the bowl. The pasta can be of any variety, I have used spaghetti and ziti before, if you use spaghetti cut it up a bit first, so the strands are not so long. I think ginger is best grated through the small side of a cheese grater. After grating the ginger, you will end up with a fibrous mass when you are finished, squeeze this hard and a very nice ginger extract can be squeezed out into the dish. Everything else gets added whenever you want, toss thoroughly and serve chilled or room temp. For added flair, either serve on top of a bed of spinach or mix spinach right in. Try serving it at Thanksgiving, everyone seems to like it. From Jarrett Mann, 2006.Red Fire farm

RAMEN NOODLE SALAD
2 bunches of Romaine, chopped or finely shredded or Napa cabbage, 1 bunch green onions, 4 T butter, ½ C. sliced almonds, 2-3 T sesame seeds
Crush noodles, brown in 4 T butter. After browned lightly add almonds and sesame seeds and continue to brown lightly for about 2 more minutes. Set aside.
Dressing: ¾ C oil, ¼ cup vinegar, ½ C sugar, 2 T soy sauce
Warm oil and sugar stirring until sugar is dissolved; add soy sauce and whisk well to combine. Toss greens with dressing and reserved noodles, nuts and seeds just before serving.

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

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. Makes 4 servings; Recipe from MACSAC

APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP
Melt 4 oz. butter; Add: l cp coarsely chopped onion; l cp peeled, cored, chopped apple; l cp peeled chopped rutabaga; l cp peeled, seeded chopped butternut squash; l cp chopped carrots; l cp peeled, chopped sweet potatoes. Cook until onions are translucent, stir occasionally. Add; l qt chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and cook till vegetables are tender and cooked through. Puree in small batches. Add: l c heavy cream; l cp milk; 1/4 c maple syrup. Return to stove and heat through. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

MASHED RUTABAGA WITH ORANGE
2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and diced; 2 T frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed; 1T butter; salt and pepper; 1 orange (optional for garnish)
Put diced rutabaga in a medium saucepan and add water to about halfway up the rutabagas. Bring to boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender. Drain off the water. For a chunky texture, mash with a potato masher. For a smoother texture, run rutabagas through a food mill or process in a food processor until smooth. Stir in orange juice concentrate and butter and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh orange zest or thin slices of orange. This can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen, then warmed in the oven. It goes well with sage-rubbed pork and mushrooms or ham. Makes 6 servings

RUTABAGA-POTATO CASSEROLE
2 medium potatoes; 2 medium rutabagas; 1/2 c. flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. salt; 1/8 tsp. pepper; 4 eggs, well beaten; 1/4 c. milk; 1/4 c. melted butter
Peel potatoes and rutabagas; cover with cold water and let stand. Sift together flour, baking powder and seasonings. Blend half of dry ingredients with eggs. Stir in milk and butter; mix. • Drain vegetables; grate fine or use blender. With wooden spoon, quickly mix remaining dry ingredients with vegetables. Work quickly to avoid dark potatoes. Place in greased 1-qt. casserole. Set in pan of hot water with level at least 2/3 up side of casserole. Bake in slow oven (325°) 1 hour. Makes 6 servings; Recipe from America’s Best Vegetable Recipes

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 4000. 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. Serves 4-6

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

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. Saute 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

RUTABAGA AND CARROT SOUP
2 tablespoons of butter, 1 medium rutabaga diced, 2 large carrots sliced, 1 onion, chopped, 6 cups of chicken stock, black pepper, salt to season, 1/4 cup of fresh whipping cream (optional)
Melt the butter in the bottom of a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the carrots, turnips and onion, stirring them well to completely coat them in butter. Cover the pot and sweat the vegetables for 10 minutes to soften them. Shake the pan every 3 minutes to prevent any sticking, but resist the temptation to lift the lid. Trapping the steam in the pot is key to building up a good vegetable sweat. Add the stock and season well with salt and pepper. I like plenty of freshly ground black pepper in this soup. Bring the soup to boiling point, lower the heat. then cover the pot and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are nice and tender. Turn the heat off and let the soup cool a little before blending it. I use my hand-held blender to blitz the vegetables, but a regular stand-up blender can also be used. Complete the process in batches if using a regular blender. And finally, add the cream. This step is optional, but I love the extra depth of flavor cream lends to this soup. You can add the cream in the pot and blitz the soup again, or do as I do, and add a spoon of cream to each bowl before serving. Recipe from IrishAmericanmom.com

RUTABAGA STEW
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 1/2 pounds chicken, diced, 4 rutabagas, peeled and diced, 4 medium beets, peeled and diced, 4 carrots, diced, 3 stalks celery, diced, 1 red onion, diced, water, or to cover
Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir chicken in hot oil until completely browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rutabagas, beets, carrots, celery, and red onion to the pot. Pour enough water over the vegetable mixture to cover completely. Reduce heat to low and cook at a simmer for at least 4 hours, adding water as needed to keep vegetable submerged. Pork, beef or venison works equally well. Recipe from Allrecipes.com

SMOKED PAPRIKA AND RUTABAGA BISQUE
3 T 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 C half-and-half, 2 1/2 tsp. 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. Add 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. Allow 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