How to Enjoy Turnips

Turnips Rock!

Turnips are one of those root vegetables that many people don’t eat. I’m not talking about people who can’t fry an egg, I’m talking about people who wouldn’t flinch at the idea of making home made mashed potatoes or making egg salad sandwiches from scratch. People who already possess the skills to enjoy turnips but don’t because they find them scary and imposing.

I was once like you.

Then I bought a bag of turnips on a whim.  I didn’t have a plan for them, I just though I should try them.  I peeled them, diced them, boiled them, and mashed them. Homemade mashed turnips.  I added a dab of butter, some salt and pepper  and became a huge fan of turnips!

So here’s the official print-it-out recipe.

Delicious Mashed Turnip Recipe

1. Peel turnips and dice into 1/2 inch cubes.
   1. If you have small fresh turnips the skins may be tender enough to just cook. Store bought turnips will be covered with food-grade wax to help preserve them.
2. Place in a pot with water covering them.
3. Cover pot with lid and simmer on medium for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. When the turnip cubes can be mashed with a fork easily, they’re cooked.
5. Mash the turnips and continue cooking until any extra water has cooked off.
6. Add butter, salt and pepper to taste.

They will have a texture like slightly lumpy mashed potatoes, and flavor like weak radish crossed with carrot.

Other Garden Happenings

The raspberries are starting to flower.

Despite the various squirrel attacks the bean plants have put out a plethora of flowers. The picture above is from one of the rows of bush beans.

What’s a Cucurbitaceae? It’s the family name that includes Squash, Pumpkins, Cucumbers and Zuchinni. Since I didn’t label what was planted here, I have no idea what it will be. The following plant definately looks like a summer yellow squash though.

We have also eaten and given away another 3 cups or so of peas. Most of them never make it to the peas-in-the-pod stage…we pretty much eat the pods as soon as they’re big enough!

Posting Delays

I apologize for the slowness in posting these recent weeks.  I have recently accepted a new job, but will be continuing part time at my current job, which means 60 hour work  weeks. I’m very excited about the new position, and I’m excited to be able to talk about the company in coming months. What the new job does mean though is that Gardening is no longer my part-time job. It’s now my part-part-time job.  My new posting schedule goal is once a week until this crazy work schedule clears up a bit.