How to Talk Turnips to Firemen: Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze

I love to go grocery shopping early in the morning. It's usually just me, senior citizens, and the produce guys.

The other day, however, I noticed two firemen near the navel oranges. Then I saw two more near the squash. Why, I wondered, would four firemen be in the market at 7:30 am? (I wasn't too worried -- I figured if the market was on fire, they wouldn't be sorting through butternut squash).

Then when I went to get some turnips, I came upon two more firemen arguing over a parsnip.

"It's a turnip," the cute one said. "No. It's a parnsip," the not-as-cute one said. (Hmmm ... I thought all firemen were supposed to be cute.)

The cute one turns to me and says, "Excuse me, miss, but isn't this a turnip?" I looked at the long, white pointy vegetable in his hand, and said sympathetically, "Sorry, but it's a parsnip." He looked crestfallen. Which is when not-so-cute guy began gloating, "See, I told you it was a parsnip."

I excused myself and began selecting some rutabagas, when the cute one asked, "What's that you're buying?" Before I could utter a response, "not-so-cute" guy piped in: "It's celery root." "Actually, it's a rutabaga," I said. "No, that's celery root," he insisted.

At this point the entire fire crew had gathered around us. I could feel my ears getting hot, and I suddenly thought, "Oh, God, please let this be a rutabaga." Then the produce guy said, "It's a rutabaga." They all razzed not-so-cute guy, and I walked away quietly, vindicated.

When I got to the checkout, the cashier picked up my rutabagas (which didn't have a code on them) and said, "these are turnips, right?"

Rutabaga (front left) and turnip (front right).

Here's how to tell the difference between rutabagas and turnips: Rutabagas are slightly yellow and dark bluish-purple; they are usually larger and more rotund than turnips. Turnips, in contrast, are white with bright violet. Rutabagas will often have the tops and bottoms cut off, while the turnips usually don't.

I love roasting root vegetables. Doing so caramelizes them. With maple syrup and sage, this dish is pleasantly smoky and sweet and wonderfully aromatic. Plus you don't have to know the difference amongst any of the vegetables -- just toss them all together; they get along well.


Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze
Serves 4
Print recipe only here.

1 rutagaba, peeled and diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 parsnip, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and several cranks of black pepper

3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp chopped fresh sage

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, toss diced vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread vegetables in a single layer on an aluminum lined baking sheet (for easy clean up). Roast for 20 minutes. Stir and continue roasting for another 20 minutes.

Meanwhile in a small pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the maple syrup and sage to the melted butter and stir until combined. Pour over the vegetables, and stir until well coated. Roast for another 15-20 minutes or until maple syrup becomes bubbly and vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork.

Garnish with more chopped fresh sage before serving.

You might also like:
Baked Yams with Citrus Glaze and Toasted Pecans
Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Breadcrumbs and Lemon
Roasted Acorn Squash with Medjool Dates and Toasted Almonds
Crispy Breaded Cauliflower with Olive-Herb Tapenade

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Summer is Time for Salsa and a New Handbag

There aren’t too women I’ve met who don’t love handbags (and shoes, but that’s another post). Recently, I was in Nordstrom when I overheard two women (an attractive blonde and an attractive brunette) justifying the purchase of a bag that was almost identical to the one on the brunette's shoulder.

“Yeah, but yours is more of a mocha color," the blonde explained. "Look -- and she held the bags next to each other-- this is definitely more chocolate than mocha. You have to get it." (See, there is a connection to food already.)

The brunette walked over to an available cashier and purchased her chocolate colored bag. I was astonished. Do women love handbags that much? Then I looked around me: half of the female population of Southern California were in Nordstrom that day, and fully half of them were in line holding new handbags.

Given that most women have inherited the autosomal dominant "handbag gene," it didn't surprise me to learn that even a reusable grocery bag could generate a stir. In case you missed it, Anya Hinmarch, a posh London designer, whose handbags go for hundreds and even thousands of dollars, created an eco-friendly tote bag imprinted with the words, "I'm Not A Plastic Bag." It was designed as a fashionable way to encourage people to stop using biodegradable-resistant plastic bags. It has been selling wildly all over the world, including here in the U.S. at Whole Foods. Women here were so eager to get one of these coveted bags that they waited in line for hours. That’s nothing, however, compared to what happened in Taiwan: In a frenzy to obtain one of these bags, a stampede resulted in 30 people actually being sent to the hospital.

Though I don’t think you should trample the woman in front of you to get one, I do think a reusable tote bag is an easy way to help the environment. Since the lovely Meeta of What’s For Lunch, Honey? has asked us to share some habits that help protect the earth for this month’s mingle, I’ve decided to submit this post. Though it’s a small thing, using a canvas tote bag can make a big difference. For more about the benefits of reusable bags and for tips click here. Also, Cate of Sweetnicks and Well Fed fame likes the tote bags from reusablebags.com which are made from recycled ad banners and seatbelt straps.

Any reusable bag will do, like this nifty one from my dad, who thought I'd like it for my farmers' market trips. I do; my only problem is I can't find the right heels to go with it. Maybe I'll head back to Nordy's....

This no-cook summertime salsa is a fresh, easy way to incorporate many of your farmers' market finds. Thanks for sharing Blush, the tomato, Alanna! With juicy cantaloupe, crunchy corn, and fiery jalapenos, it's a vibrant and flavorful medley of summer's finest fruits and veggies. Served atop grilled seafood or tofu and a cooked whole grain, such as quinoa (OK, this part requires some cooking, though very little), it makes a lovely summertime meal.

Susan’s Summertime Salsa

Print recipe only here.

1 cup diced cantaloupe
1 cup diced mango
1 cup diced red or yellow bell pepper
½ cup red or yellow cherry tomatoes
½ cup chopped cucumber (peeled and de-seeded)
1 ear of fresh sweet corn (cut from cob)
¼ cup diced red onion or scallions

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (about one small lime)
Pinch of lime zest
1 Tbsp fruity olive oil
2 tsp fresh grated ginger (about a 1-inch sized piece)
2 Tbsp minced jalapeno, with or without seeds
Salt
2 Tbsp each chopped fresh cilantro, mint, and basil

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a bowl, and toss gently to blend.

Combine the lime juice through the salt in a small bowl; whisk until fully blended. Pour on top of the fruit mixture. Serve either at room temperature or chilled. Stir in the chopped fresh herbs just before eating so they don’t turn brown.

Note:

Fresh sweet corn on the cob can be eaten raw, which is delicious and crunchy. If you've never tried it before, then give it a go. You'll be glad you did.

If you don’t like the intensity of raw onions, simply pour some boiling water over them to remove their pungency, or sauté in a bit of olive oil.

You might also like:

Minding My Peas
Swordfish with Pineapple-Mango Salsa
Funky farmers' market produce

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Minding My Peas

Eat your peas. That's one thing my mother never had to say to me. I always liked peas, even as a little girl. Why? Probably because my mom never overcooked them, and she always used fresh peas (well, maybe frozen occasionally, but never canned).

All varieties of peas have been available lately in Southern California, and their full flavor and crisp texture is incomparable. In addition to the classic English pea, there is the snow pea and, my favorite, the sugar snap pea.

Now, sometimes peas can be a bit complicated. Do I eat the pod? Can I eat it raw? What exactly does shuck mean? Thankfully, a farmer at our local market recently put up signs:

ENGLISH PEAS: DON’T EAT THE PODS

SUGAR SNAP PEAS: EAT THE WHOLE THING

No one ever has questions about the snow peas; they’re low maintenance.

Is you should ever find yourself in this situation (and don’t have a hand written sign to help you), here’s a pea primer. Pictured below from left to right are the English pea, the snow pea, and the sugar snap pea.

The basic garden pea was cultivated in England, which is why it’s called an “English” pea. When buying English peas, look for plump, deep green, rather heavy pods, as these will have the largest peas. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

To shell the peas, simply snap off the top and pull down, until the stringy spine is removed and the pod opens up; remember to throw away the inedible pod. There are two things you should know about shelling peas:

1. They’re like spinach. You need to start off with a lot more than you think you’ll need; then you should have just enough. In general, 1 pound of peas in their pods yields about 1 cup of shelled peas.

2. Don’t shell peas by yourself. It's no fun. Plus, if you do it alone, then there won't be anyone to prevent you from eating all of the peas before you can make your recipe. Don't laugh. It happened to me. I had to buy more.

Snow peas are typically associated with Asian cuisine; this is no coincidence, since historically, they have been cultivated in Asian countries and are also called Chinese peapods. Ever wonder why they’re flat? It’s because they're harvested while the peas are still underdeveloped. Look for snowpeas that are bright green, flat, and almost translucent. They are entirely edible and can be eaten raw or cooked.


What happens when you cross an English pea and a snow pea? You get the best pea of all: the sugar snap pea. These are crisp and sweeter than English peas and can be eaten raw or cooked (but only briefly, or the flavor and texture will suffer). When selecting sugar snap peas, look for puffed up, bright green pods. Don't worry if the pods have some white scratch marks on them; my local farmer says that's normal. Just remember to “snap” the top of the pea back and pull until you remove the stringy spine on both sides of the pod.


Though I make many dishes that highlight each of these peas, today I decided to share one that includes all three. Using the freshest dill you can find and freshly squeezed orange juice elevates this warm salad to something special. This salad could also be made using all raw vegetables and substituting red onions for the shallots and some olive oil and vinegar for the butter. It's also my submission to Lis of La Mia Cucina and Kelly of Sass and Veracity who are co-hosting Salad Stravaganza.

Warm Three Pea and Radish Salad
Makes 4 side servings.
Print recipe only here.

2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp butter
1 ½ cup radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (or carton juice)
A couple of pinches of orange zest
2 cups snow peas
2 cups sugar snap peas
1 cup shelled English peas
½ cup fresh dill, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt butter. Add the shallot; sauté 2-3 minutes. Add radishes, and sauté 1 minute more. Add the orange juice and zest. Once it begins to heat up and bubble, lower the heat, and add the snow peas and sugar snap peas, and cook 1 minute. Add the English peas, and cook another 30 seconds. Turn off heat as peas are best when al dente. Add the fresh dill, and season generously with salt and pepper. Garnish with orange zest, if desired.

Note: If you’d like the dressing a little bit thicker, then simply dissolve about 1 tsp of cornstarch in a little bit of water and add with the orange juice.

Serve as a side salad or over a cooked grain, such as couscous, for a more complete meal.

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