Mashed Sweets and Turnips
It's great to know you can get a head start on
this inventive sweet potato recipe. Cook and
mash sweet potatoes and turnips the day before
the feast and reheat in the microwave oven just
before serving. Start to finish: 55 minutes
3 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into
1-inch cubes (about 9 1/2 cups)
2 1/2 lb. turnips, peeled and cut into 1
inch cubes (81/2 cups)
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter or regular butter
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tart, medium red cooking apples, such as
Jonathan or Rome, cored and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup snipped pitted whole dates
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
In a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven combine sweet
potatoes and turnips with enough water to
cover. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover
and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until
tender. Drain well in a very large colander.
Return vegetables to the Dutch oven; add the
3 tablespoons butter and the salt. Mash
vegetables with a potato masher until nearly smooth.
For the apple-date relish, in a medium skillet
melt the 2 tablespoons butter. Add apples,
dates, and brown sugar. Cook and stir until
sugar is dissolved and apples are just tender.
Stir in lemon juice.
To serve, mound hot vegetables in serving bowl;
top with apple-date relish. Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Make-ahead tip: Mashed vegetables may be prepared
one day ahead. Place in a 2- to 2 1/2-quart
microwave-safe dish; cool slightly, then cover
and refrigerate. To reheat, micro-cook, covered,
on 70% power (medium-high) 20 to 25 minutes or
until hot through, stirring twice. Make appledate
relish while potatoes reheat.
MOLDING YOUR RICE
BEAUTIFIES YOUR PRESENTATION
Have you ever, in the middle of serving up the
dinner plates to your guests, thought, "Gosh,
this rice looks kind of messy on the plate?"
Well, leave it to the Japanese to invent a rice
mold now available in the U.S. for home use.
The rice mold, which comes in two sizes (one
for individual servings and one for whole-table
dishes), is made of rubberized wood. It creates
a perfectly rounded mound with a well in the
center for gravy, sauce, or dressing. It will
change the whole look of your dinner table. It
also works for couscous, tablouleh, and other
grains.
