The Turnip Green Journey

I harvested well over a half bushel of Turnip Greens today and 

they are headed straight for Christmas Dinner.

We started the Turnip Greens on their journey back in September when we cleared the summer garden and planted the fall and winter greens.

Fall Garden Planting

We got just the right sun and rain and by Thanksgiving they were doing really well and we were able to harvest enough for our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Fall Garden

Now we are ready to prepare the Turnip Greens for our Christmas Dinner.

Turnip Greens

Miz Helen's Kitchen

6 to 8 small to medium Turnip's with the Greens

6 slices of bacon chopped

1 medium yellow onion

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoons pepper

Optional: 2 teaspoons sugar

• Take the green tops off of the turnips. Remove the long stems from the greens. Soak the greens in a bowl of ice cold water for at least 20 minutes. This allow all the sand on the leaves to float to the bottom of the bowl.

Soak The Greens

• Fry the bacon in a dutch oven and add the chopped onion. Cook over medium heat until the onions have began to caramelize.

Fry The Bacon and Caramelize The Onions

•  Add the greens into the hot dutch oven and as the greens begin to wilt stir the bacon and onions into the greens.  

Add The Greens

•  Stir in the cleaned chopped turnips. 

 Clean The Turnips

• Cover the mixture with water and season. Cover and cook on medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes. People in the south call the broth of the turnip greens "Pot Liquor". If  you do not want your broth or "Pot Liquor" to be brown, then do not cook the onions until they have caramelized. 

•  Serve hot. Freezes well for up to one month.

The Christmas Day Turnips

Sometimes we don't stop to realize the journey of the vegetables that come to our table. The turnips had a four month journey. These are organic turnips so they have had no extra help except what God and the good earth has sent. All the trimmings and the onion skins went into the compost bin, that will produce the compost for the spring garden and the process begins again.

I am grateful for the turnips that will be a part of our Christmas Dinner and we had so much fun on their journey so that we can share it with you. I hope you enjoy your Turnip Greens at Christmas or any other time you might have them. I am so happy that you stopped by today. Have a safe trip back to the city and don't forget your Turnips...come back soon!

Peace and Joy

Miz Helen
This Post is Linked To:
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Tuesday Twister
Real Food Wednesday
Slightly Indulgent Tuesday
Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday