Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Sunday, January 8, 2012

A Troutbirder Rant

Rant - to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner. 2. : to scold vehemently. transitive verb. : to utter in a bombastic declamatory fashion.
After three years of blogging I’ve decided to step over the line. The ranting line that is....
Far too many bloggers, especially those of a political nature and the male gender, regularly live there. My own passion though is of a more vegetable nature. It seems as a child I was born to be prejudiced against certain types. Cooked cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cooked carrots, canned peas, and rutabagas. I eventually outgrow all those dislikes except for one. The later.
My mom loved to cook with rutabagas. God alone knows why. I’ve often thought that the smell of cooking rutabagas could overpower anything, even an enemy. I’m surprised the army never adapted them for battlefield use.
Mom regularly added the hated ingredient to her vegetable beef soup. The corker though was the Sunday roast beef dinner we had after church. A fine dinner it was with carrots, potatoes and onions added to the roast. The rutabagas killed it all though with the taste and odor lingering on for hours.
The memory of all this has unfortunately lingered on into my so called golden years besmirching my reputation for open mindedness. Take our recent fine dinner with Mr. And Mrs. Science. Somehow, and I don’t know how it happened, the subject of the hated vegetable came up. I proceeded to launch into what Mrs. T calls "his predictable ten minute tirade." It was then that our gracious hostess finally blurted out "but we love rutabagas." And proceeded to point out that their neighbors grew them by the ton and gifted them with a 50 pound bag each year. Thereupon, I was informed that many fine and discerning gourmets love the root. Oh my. In another example, my wife’s best friend has often carefully boxed and wrapped one for my birthday. The word has gotten around.....

For the uninitiated who remain unconvinced, in the public interest, I submit the following:-

Lemon Carrots and Rutabagas
Ingredients
4 medium carrots, cut into 3 inch julienne strips
2 cups rutabaga, peeled and cut into 3 inch julienne strips
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon dill weed
Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the carrots, rutabaga and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook for 13-15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until butter is melted.
Drain vegetables; add butter mixture. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are glazed, stirring occasionally.

16 comments:

  1. Dear T'Birder
    You forgot an essential step: the first one, "Throw out the rutabagas".
    Sincerely,
    SFM

    However, parsnips are quite good as a replacement.

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  2. I grew up with my mom putting said veggie in her stews. I love their tart taste -- what can I say? :)

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  3. I only just this past December had rutabagas for the first time. They were... interesting but certainly not awful as described herein. I'll have to try that recipe. This was a pretty funny post, TB. I enjoyed it a great deal.

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  4. i'd have to agree with you, troutbirder. the roast w/ onions, carrots and taters is my fave, but leave those nasty things out of the mix...

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  5. I never have eaten them much. I like to think as a root they are good for one, but if friends don't want to come by after cooking them I might refrain.

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  6. Not much for "Ruta-beggies" either! Love that sign at the end of your post.

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  7. Kia ora TB,
    Reminds me of a recipe for our native bird the Kiwi, which from time to time mountain explorers were forced to eat : Take one Kiwi, plucked and cleaned and put into a pot of boiling water with a large rock. Boil for 5 hours. Remove the kiwi and water and eat the rock.
    Best of New Years wishes.
    Cheers,
    Robb

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  8. I must say....I don't think I have ever ingested a rutabaga. Now you have me intrigued!

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  9. Open Mind or Open Mouth? That's probably the key to devouring rutabaga... although, I'm not sure. ;-) Rant on. I've decided, at my age, I don't HAVE to like or eat everything!! lol

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  10. Most of us Northern Minnesota people like them..because it makes our tummys feel all warm and cozy inside. I only put them in my homemade vegetable soup:)

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  11. Some people say that a pastie isn't a pastie without a rhutabaga. I'm no expert, but I always hope that there aren't too many.

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  12. I will admit that rutabagas are far down my list of favorite vegetables. Fortunately Dad doesn't like them either, so Mom didn't use them very often.

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  13. I love the last saying! I must remember it for future use. You have every right to not like rutabagas if that is your desire. I don't believe I've eaten rutabagas but maybe someday. I'm sure I'll remember this rant when I do.

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  14. You forgot to tell us whether or not you actually liked the recipe.

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  15. Man, I was sure the last step in your recipe was going to be to sieve out the rutabagas and discard.

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  16. I've never met a vegetable that I didn't like but I must admit, I've never met a rutabaga! Am I lucky? Or am I missing out? Hmmmm.....

    I love it that your friend wrapped one up for you for your birthday. Too funny!!

    And not to worry, I think one should rant every now and then on a subject they are passionate about. And clearly you are passionate about your 'hate' for rutabagas. ;)

    Hugs to your sweetie to keep strong!
    xo Catherine

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