Meatless Monday: Eastham Turnip-Potato Gratin

In my continuing quest to find new yummy recipes for turnips, I came across this recipe the other day - another that combines potatoes and turnips in such a delicious way you will definitely be asking for seconds. I couldn't resist giving it a test-drive because it's named after a town in my home state of Massachusetts - a town in which a good friend of mine lives. The recipe says, "The Cape Cod town of Eastham is noted for its extra-sweet turnips . . . ." I would add "extra-sweet friends, too!" Awww, sappy, I know. Sorry, but I'm in that kind of a mood.

Eastham Turnip-Potato Gratin
Recipe

I wasn't sure how well I would like the Gruyère in this recipe, but it was so so good - stinky, but tasty. I used more than the recipe suggests (probably because of my extra layers - see below), and I was not disappointed.

The recipe also says you can either use a mandoline or a sharp knife for the slicing. Since this recipe takes about 1 1/2 hours to make, NOT counting slicing time, I would definitely recommend using a mandoline if you have one. Of course - and this should go without saying - JUST BE CAREFUL! The only things you want to be shaving off are turnips, potatoes, and time! And, of course, if you don't want to dedicate so much time to one side dish in one day, you can always make up the layers a day ahead of time too.

I set my mandoline for a thinner slice than the recipe suggests, so I ended up with more layers, but I think it came out really nicely that way. The texture was just perfect. When I pushed my fork through those layers, I just knew that that 1 1/2 hours of cooking time had been worth it.

I am really inspired now to try to recreate a layered ratatouille I had at a little French restaurant last year. (More fun with the mandoline!) So, look for that post in the coming weeks!

Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!

Other Meatless Monday posts

Meatless Monday: Mashed Potatoes & Turnips

My latest challenge has been to figure out different ways to prepare turnip. (Three large Japanese turnips were in my latest CSA box). The following recipe proved to be a delicious solution. Mind you, it looked just awful (grey mush), but it really was yummy - brilliant alternative to straight-up mash potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes & Turnips
Recipe

No special tips this week. This one's a really quick and simple recipe that you can make with your eyes shut. Sometimes you need those.

Okay, well, maybe one quick note - this is one of those recipes that gives your ingredients in weight (e.g., 1 lb. of turnips). I used my kitchen scale to get the weight exact (cuz I'm anal retentive that way), but if you don't have one (and/or don't have problems with anal retention), two large potatoes and two large turnips will net you roughly the same results.

Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!

Other Meatless Monday posts

Meatless Monday: Potato-Corn Cakes

I've decided to institute "Meatless Mondays" in my home as a way to be a little healthier and to help out the environment. Yes! Another excuse to buy way too much at the farmers' market on Saturdays. :) (Have a farmers' market near you? Not sure? Check out this site - Farmersmarket.com.)

Since we'll be cooking more vegetarian dishes now, I thought I would introduce a new regular post type on this site called "Meatless Mondays" in which I'll share some of my favorite vegetarian recipes. Here's one I found at Sunset.com which I tried out over the weekend:

POTATO-CORN CAKES
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=682759

I love almost any recipe with cumin, and this one was no exception. These are soo delicious! They make a great main attraction for a brunch menu or a crowd-pleasing side dish for lunch or dinner. (Note: I skipped the cilantro because I think cilantro tastes like toilet. If you don't like cilantro either, like with most dishes, you can just do without it or substitute parsley.)

Got any favorite vegetarian recipes?? Please share!

Related Post: Lamentations of a Non-Vegetarian

Other Meatless Monday Posts