Twenty Bag | Dec 22

In the December 22 Twenty Bag: Curly kale, Hakurei turnips, red “Christmas” cabbage, rainbow carrots, herbal medley of sage, oregano, thyme, fingerling potatoes, pea tendrils, beets. What a gift!

Thank you Harleston Towles and Rooting Down Farm!

With frigid temps plunging the Lowcountry (and much of the rest of the country) into a deep freeze, it’s reassuring to have all my vegetable needs in the Bag! Soup is definitely on the menu again this week. I’m freezing the enormous pot of creamy cauliflower soup I made with last week’s goodies, and giving some away to friends over the holidays. I think giving the gift of food you’ve made yourself, with organic locally farmed product, is a gift from the heart, and really appreciated.

The tender Hakureis are destined for one of my cold weather favorites—a turnip potage from cookbook author Deborah Madison that’s full of earthy flavor and comforting to the soul.

Another big pot of love—this one, from Food 52—Rachel Roddy’s Creamy Beans with Sage is easy, nutritious and guaranteed to keep the chill at bay. The one-pot wonder starts on the stove top and is finished in the oven. And Rachel suggests subbing fresh herbs of your choice for the sage.

This luscious recipe for Cheesy Cabbage Gratin is your naughty/ nice splurge for the holidays—a super healthy vedge afloat in a rich sauce made with heavy cream and Gruyere cheese. Hmmm.

I concur with Harleston’s thoughts on the pea tendrils: to showcase their sweet pea profile and tender texture, raw, in a salad.

A quick search of sweetgrass + grits will take you to plenty more recipes—all curated with an eye toward the weekly Twenty Bag harvest.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Good Eats To All!

Harleston’s storage tips: If greens of any kind begin to wilt at any point or at pick up, put them in a big bowl of ice water for 20-30 minutes  Kale, pea tendrils, turnip greens, beet greens, and herbs should all go in a plastic bag of sorts to retain leaf moisture.  Turnips, beets, carrots, and cabbage would be fine in the crisper drawer.  If you want to store any of those root crops for a month or more, put them in a plastic bag too.  Sweet potatoes on the counter or pantry in a cool, dark place.