Root Vegetables from the Garden

The cold weather finished off a lot of our winter crop.  Spinach - gone.  Turnips - gone.  Mustard Greens - gone.  Beets - mostly gone.  Many of the winter crop was just too small when the cold weather hit and they couldn't survive.  At least some of the beets survived.  We've been slowly picking them and eating them.  The Bull's Blood beets had to be replanted.  I think in another couple of weeks, we may have some that will be ready.  Here are some nice Detroit Red beets.

Then there's the carrots.  I replanted a couple of rows of carrots.  The existing carrots were hurt, but are just now maturing.  Atomic Red Carrots and Cosmic Purple Carrots.  For supper last night, I pulled some Danvers Carrots and some Uzbek Yellow Carrots.

We sliced them up, tossed them in olive oil, roasted them in the oven and sprinkled fresh cut parsley on top.  

What a feast!  We could eat this every night and not get tired of them!

Almost Mardi Gras Colors

We like to grow some strange things in the garden most years.  Not really strange, but things with lots of color.  I wanted to show some Purple of Sicily Cauliflower.  For some reason, they didn't make the big heads like normal white cauliflower.  They look more like broccoli, in fact.  But one thing is for certain, they're PURPLE!

Every night we have been taking them and breaking them apart and putting them on a baking sheet with minced garlic, butter and olive oil with kosher salt and roasting them in the oven.  I tell you, if you've never eaten broccoli or cauliflower like this, you are missing out!  It is our family's favorite.  Even Benjamin, who is not wild about certain vegetables, will eat these.  Look how pretty the Purple of Sicily Cauliflower looks in all its glory.

The bad thing about growing colorful vegetables, is that it makes growing "normal" vegetables somewhat mundane and boring in comparison.  Look at this poor, pale cauliflower.

One thing is for sure, they all taste great, despite the color.  Here is one more photo of a "bouquet" of purple cauliflower and green broccoli.  The only thing missing is something Yellow, and there would be all the colors of Mardi Gras.