what does a celery root look like?

Before I post two super easy recipes that take advantage of celery root, a root vegetable readily available in the Northeast in wintertime, I want to make sure you all have a visual on what you're looking for at your local supermarket or farmer's market. This gnarly, knobby bulb is a celery root (aka celeraic). You can eat it raw or cooked...just make sure to remove the skin. Celery root is very low in starch, crispy when eaten raw and smooth when cooked. I add it to my batches of roasted root vegetables, and it's a wonderful addition to veggie soups. Most recently, I roasted it on its' own as a side dish... and then mashed the leftovers to make a totally different side dish, similar to mashed potatoes but which much more flavor.

what is jicama?

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback for sharing what fennel looks like and what various squashes look like, so I'm going to do the same for jicama today. I have a simple snack/ appetizer recipe to share: jicama spears with fresh lime juice and chili powder, but first I want to make sure everyone knows what to look for in your produce section! As you can see in the above pic, jicama has a papery light brown exterior (though most of the jicama found by us in CT appear to have a coating of wax on top of the skin). Once the skin is removed, you have this white interior that is hard and watery-- kind of like a raw potato in texture, but much sweeter, which you see pictured below. Jicama is almost 90% water, and can be enjoyed raw or added to things like stir-fries to add some crunch. Usually featured in Mexican and SE Asian cooking, I add it to green salads, bean salads, gazpacho, or just have it prepped in the fridge for a healthy, quick snack.

what does a fennel bulb look like?

As I was typing up a recipe for (this fabulous) fennel-orange salad it occurred to me that some might ask what a fennel bulb looks like? It's easy to get your bulbs confused, particularly if you have an antsy toddler in the shopping cart "helping". So, without further adieu... here is what you're looking for when a recipe calls for a "fennel bulb" or "fresh fennel". Fennel appears in many Mediterranean recipes. It is crunchy, a little bit sweet, and has a mild anise flavor. It's showcased in one of my favorite lentil salads, I have roasted it alongside root veggies and if I have it on hand, I love to add it to my bouillabaisse. Most of the recipes I feature fennel in just use the white bulb part.

What does a Butternut or Acorn Squash look like?

It dawned on me that as I post squash recipes, I should back up and clarify what kind of squash you want to pick up at your local market. Many markets sell squash already cut-up, but it’s much less expensive, and the squash will be fresher if you purchase the whole thing, peel and scoop the seeds yourself.

This is an acorn squash, which if you have a good imagination looks kind of like an acorn. To prep this one, you simply cut it in half, scoop the seeds out and it’s ready to be drizzled with a little olive oil and go in the oven! The skin cooks while it’s roasting and I usually eat it, but my kids want nothing to do with skin, so after it comes out of the oven, let it cool down a little bit and then simply peel the skin off. It should come off very easily after cooking.

This is a butternut squash. It has a sweet taste, similar to pumpkin. For those wondering about butternut's nutritional value: it is a great source of fiber, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and potassium. So, kid-pleasing and good for you, a bonus. (If you’re going to buy one of these two squashes already peeled and cut, this would be the one to go for since it takes a little more effort...) To prep this one, first I cut it in half, and then I scooped out the seeds. Then I carefully held the squash and used a carrot peeler to whisk off the skin. Once you do that you can chop it any size and you’re good to go!

The Legos have lost their allure, but I’ll aim to post two more squash recipes: stuffed (pictured above) and maple roasted later on this afternoon. Until then, enjoy this gorgeous Fall day!