Saturday, August 21, 2010

Rooting for rutabagas, or does this look good enough to eat?


Some vegetables – or things we call vegetables which may actually be fruit -- are truly beautiful to behold, in my opinion at least, and most of them taste just as wonderful.

If someone were to hold a gun to my head and demand that I announce my favorite vegetable, I probably would say squash. There are so many different kinds..


and I think each one is good in its own right.



This carnival squash is bright and cheerful and is aptly named...


 and was wonderfully sweet... 

and then there are glossy, deep purple eggplant...



and bright tomatoes that you can pop in your mouth like candy...


and peppers in all colors…


 and then comes the lowly rutabaga….


It takes courage to eat some vegetables.

In our goal to add 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables to our diet every day, we took a chance on the rutabaga about a year ago. It did not look very appetizing, especially with the thick coating of wax that is applied before it is displayed in the produce department. But it wasn't very expensive either, so we figured if we tossed it, the loss wouldn't be too great.

I don’t think many people here eat them. In fact, they are not even offered for sale at the two local markets.
We bought some from the store we love to hate. We found rutabaga makes a very nice addition to the meal.


It has a delicate, sweet flavor -- not like a turnip at all. Try it, you might like it.

3 comments:

Oklahoma Granny said...

I don't know that I've ever had rutabaga. I'd have to buy a very small one because I know my husband wouldn't be game for trying it.

And on the subject of my husband, I asked him about the niacin he takes. He does take the non-flushing type but still takes aspirin along with it. And he takes the niacin at night. He seems to think that helps.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Interesting how you call your veggies by different names. One picture shows what I call pumpkin. I am growing some in our veggie garden and hoping they will be ready for my birthday on Hallowe'en as it is traditional to put a candle inside one on that date here.
Rutabags - I don't know at all but they look a bit like swedes or turnips, both of which we eat roasted with potatoes.
Like you we always have between 5 and 7 each day - at present we are eating broad beans, runner beans, courgettes and peas from our garden, so I am only having to buy broccoli, tomatoes and aubergines (I think you call these egg plants)

Isn't it interesting to hear the different names.

Mary Hake said...

I don't like it plain. The girls have a carrot-rhutabaga recipe that's good.