Roasted Roots

Photo:
Tod Dimmick










I've been playing with variations on this Wolfgang Puck recipe for years. It's a terrific destination root vegetables, and a perfect addition to the Thanksgiving table.

Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 1 hour
Serves: 10 to 12

INGREDIENTS
2-3 large beets
4-5 carrots, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
3 small turnips, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
2 small rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
6 to 8 potatoes, scrubbed and and cut into 1” chunks
1 or 2 large parsnips, peeled, trimmed, and cut diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices
1 or 2 medium onions, trimmed, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
1 celery root, trimmed and cut into 1” chunks
1 whole head garlic, separated into cloves, unpeeled
2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, sage, or thyme
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS
Heat 4 cups of water in a saucepan over medium heat. When the water reaches boiling, boil the beets for 15 minutes.

While the beets are cooking, preheat the oven to 400F. Place the beets in ice water for a minute, and slip off their skins. Slice beets into 1/5 inch slices. Put the beets and the rest of the vegetables and the herb sprigs in a large baking dish. Season well with salt and black pepper, drizzle generously with olive oil, and toss them with your hands to coat them evenly. Put the baking dish in the preheated oven and cook, stirring the vegetables occasionally, until they are tender and golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Served up by Tod Dimmick

Everything Powisset Crock Pot

This delicious potluck dish was created by Christiane Oberli for Powisset Farm.

Prep time: 20 Min
Cook time: 6-8 hours unattended
Serves: 6-8

1 smoked ham hock
1 lb dried beans mix washed and sorted
3 carrots sliced
2 parsnips sliced
1 celeriac cubed
1 large red onion roughly chopped
3 cloves of garlic skinned
1 tbsp salt
4 fresh sprigs parsley
3 fresh sprigs thyme
2 cloves
3 bay leaves
2 tbsp ketchup
water
4 peeled potatoes cubed

Place all except potatoes in crock pot and fill with water (allow beans to expand). Turn on low for 6 to 8 hours. Add potatoes 2 hours prior to serving. At time of serving, cut up ham hock and return all (bone included) to the pot. Enjoy with crusty bread slices.

Parsnips

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) are a winter vegetable, growing slowly in the ground like carrots. They are related to carrots, parsley and celery. After a frost, parsnips are said to have developed their best flavor. Parsnips store well - keep them in a loose plastic bag in the fridge and they will last for many weeks.

Parsnips can be prepared raw (grate into salads), steamed, boiled or braised, cooked in soups, sauteed, and roasted. Or, try baking it into a cake (see below)!

Parsnip Spice Cake with Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting
from epicurious.com

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
2 cups (packed) shredded peeled parsnips (about 3 large)
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
3 cups (about 12 ounces) powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Combine flour, sugar, ground ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves in large bowl; whisk to combine. Whisk eggs, oil, milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in medium bowl to combine. Pour egg mixture over dry ingredients; stir until just combined. Stir in parsnips and walnuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.

Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in fresh ginger and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until frosting is smooth. Spread over cake. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

Roasted Root Vegetables

This recipe is super easy and combines some great winter vegetables. Substitute any veggies for others!

Olive oil
2-3 Tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (or less of dried herbs)
1-2 sweet potatoes or storage potatoes
1-2 rutabagas
1 purple-top storage turnip
2 carrots
1-2 parsnips
1 onion
garlic cloves
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 F and chop your vegetables into 1-inch or so chunks. Leave garlic peeled and just crush it with the side of a knife. Toss with olive oil and herbs and spread it all on a baking sheet with edges or casserole dish. Bake until tender and slightly browned, stirring once or twice, about 40 minutes.

Winter Storage

Storing your bounty of winter vegetables is easy! Remember to check them frequently, pulling out anything with the start of sprouts or rot. Of course, you can still use these, just cut out those bad parts and use the rest. As a general rule, most winter veggies store ideally at 50 F, so if your fridge is full, try an unheated basement, garage or unused bedroom. Just make sure temperatures will not be at freezing at your storage site.

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Keep unwashed in a cool, dry, DARK place, such as a loosely closed paper bag in a cupboard (never in plastic bags). Ideal temperature is 40-50 F. You can still use sprouted potatoes, just cut out the eyes. Sweet potatoes might not last quite as long as potatoes, check them often.

Root Crops (Celeriac, Rutabaga, Turnip, Beets, Parsnips, Carrots)
The ideal place is near freezing with high humidity. You can store these unwashed in a refrigerator in a plastic bag where they should save several weeks. To save fridge space, you can keep them in boxes filled with soil or sand or moist wood shavings in an unheated (but never freezing) part of your house such as a garage or basement.

Onions and Shallots
Keep them in a cool, dark, dry place with good air circulation (not in plastic) where they won’t freeze. Shallots will last longer. Sprouted parts are fine to use.

Daikon Radishes and Leeks
Wrap the unwashed roots in a plastic bag in the fridge. It will keep for a couple of weeks.

Winter Squash
Keep between 50 F and room temperature, in a cool, dry place without direct sunlight. Do not store in the refrigerator.

Spiced Parsnip & Red Lentil Soup

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
2 1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and in chunks
1 onion, peeled and quartered
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil (not extra virgin)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups red lentils
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sea salt or 1 tablespoon table salt, or to taste.
In a food processor, chop parsnips, onion and garlic together until reduced to consistency of grated cheese.
Place a large soup pot over medium-low heat, and warm olive oil. Stir in cumin, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon. Add parsnip mixture, and stir well until coated.
Add lentils, lemon zest and juice and 3 quarts water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until lentils are soft and mixture is thick, about 1 hour. Season with salt. Add more water to adjust thickness of soup to taste; soup will thicken on standing. Serve hot.
Yield: 14 cups (8 servings).
via New York Times.