Apple Parsnip Mash Food

MAKE-AHEAD PARSNIP-APPLE MASH

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook parsnips in a single layer until just golden on bottoms, about 10 minutes. Flip, and add apples, water, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Raise heat to medium-high, and simmer, covered, until parsnips and apples are very soft, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and let stand, covered to retain moisture, until slightly cooled, about 5 minutes. Puree mixture in a blender until smooth. With machine running, add remaining tablespoon butter.

PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Peel and roughly chop 2 pounds parsnips. Cook in boiling salted water until soft, about 20 minutes; drain. Puree with 3 tablespoons butter; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with grated parmesan.
• Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree these veggies-they're too fibrous for a potato masher.

JAZZED-UP PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Cut the parsnips into large, fairly evensized chunks: the skinny end will make one chunk, then either halve or quarter the bulky part lengthways, remove the core, and cut into similar-sized pieces.
• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil, tip in the parsnips and cook briskly for 10-15 minutes, half-covered, until tender but not slushy. Drain well, then return parsnips to the saucepan.
• Push the parsnips to one side and put the butter, spices and plenty of ground black pepper into the space. Return the saucepan to a very low heat and let the butter melt, the spices warm through and the parsnips continue to dry for a few minutes.
• Now add the milk and oil and mash the parsnips vigorously, until smooth. (They won't look as smooth as potato mash but a quick taste will tell you if there are any lumps left.) Adjust the seasoning, if necessary, and serve immediately.

APPLE-PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combineparsnips, apples, and water. Coverand bring to a boil over medium-high.Reduce heat to mediumand cook, covered, until parsnipsare completely tender, 25 to30 minutes. Transfer mixture to afood processor, add unsalted butter, and process untilsmooth. Season with coarsesalt and ground pepper.

TASTY COTTAGE PIE WITH PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Dry fry the mince (without adding any oil) in a non-stick pan until evenly brown and crumbly. Add the onions and carrots and cook over a high heat for 5 minutes, stirring well.
• Add the Worcestershire sauce and tomato purée, pour in the stock and bring to the boil, stirring until well mixed. Cover the pan and leave to simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the carrots and onions are tender and the stock has reduced. Taste and season. Blend the cornflour with a little water and stir into the mixture, cooking for a minute or until slightly thickened.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6/ fan oven 180C. While the meat is simmering, cook the potatoes and parsnips in boiling salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash with seasoning and enough milk to make a creamy consistency.
• Tip the meat mixture into a 1.4 litre/ 21⁄2 pint ovenproof dish, spoon the mash on top and rough up the surface with a fork. Bake for 30 minutes or until the potato topping is lightly golden. Serve with steamed broccoli or Savoy cabbage.