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Making a Root Vegetable Ferment

Lately I’ve been feeling like my gut and digestive system could use a tune up (not to mention dealing with a recent bout of heartburn/GERD), so I decided to make a nice root vegetable ferment. My body loves lacto-fermented foods, and I had some beautiful carrots and rutabagas from the CSA this week, plus onion, garlic, and ginger were in the house. I also added some red pepper flakes to make it a little spicy.

carrots-rutabaga-onion-garlic-ginger-for-ferment

I washed off the vegetables (and got rid of the carrot hairs), but didn’t peel them, since there are microbes on the outside of the vegetables that help in the fermentation process. I grated the rutabagas and carrots, chopped the onion into small pieces, and minced the garlic (2 peeled cloves) and an inch chunk of (unpeeled) ginger.

grated-root-vegetables-for-ferment

I added a good shake of red pepper flakes—maybe 1/2 a tsp. Then I added 1 tbs of kosher salt, which doesn’t have iodine (that also interferes with the fermentation process). Continue reading “Making a Root Vegetable Ferment”

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Final Hellgate CSA Share of 2011

Final Week of 2011

So, last Tuesday was our final Hellgate CSA distribution of 2011. I won’t deny that it will be strange not picking up later tonight. What we got last week was:

1 bunch lacinato kale
1 celeriac
1 pound carrots
1 pound rutabagas
1 head cauliflower
1 bag sunchokes

I’ve eaten half the kale and carrots. The sunchokes were used for carrot-sunchoke fritters. Celeriac for remoulade. Rutabagas will be for roasting, as will the cauliflower.

Continue reading “Final Hellgate CSA Share of 2011”

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Thanksgiving 2011

thanksgiving dinner 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 was a modest time, but really nice. We made a (relatively) simple meal, complete with traditional and not-so-traditional dishes. Everything was delicious! Our menu was:

  • turkey chili
  • celery root and apple remoulade
  • roasted root vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, garlic)
  • roasted brussels sprouts
  • pumpkin pie with whipped cream (sweetened with maple syrup)

The turkey chili was made with organic, free-range turkey from our CSA  – I used a pound of ground turkey and a half pound of turkey sausage. I’ll share the recipe very soon – it was a huge hit here at home. The root vegetables all came from the CSA, too, including the celery root.

I was introduced to celery root remoulade about 8 years ago, when I tasted it at an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner. I remember not being able to get enough of it, it was so delicious! It’s basically raw celery root cut into matchsticks, and it is sauced with a mixture of sour cream, mustard, lemon, and vinegar. I think it’s wonderful and it does well with the addition of diced Empire apple.

I roast brussels sprouts in olive oil and salt. I roast the root vegetables in olive oil, thyme, and salt. Both pans cooked at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes. Both dishes were delicious – I love how everything caramelizes and turns sweet and salty.

I forgot to cook the kale I had planned! D’oh. Tomorrow.

Continue reading “Thanksgiving 2011”