Mashed Potatoes And Turnips With Bacon And Thyme Food

MASHED POTATOES WITH BACON & GARLIC

Steps:

• Roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves; place in center of a sheet of foil. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top and season generously with salt. Wrap in foil and bake in the oven until golden and tender, about 1 hour.
• Potatoes: Cut peeled potatoes into ½-inch dice. (Note: Potatoes can be peeled and diced 1 day in advance. Store completely submerged in cold water in the refrigerator, changing the water every few hours to prevent browning.) Place diced potatoes into a pot filled with cold salted water (as "salty as the sea"). Bring to a boil over high heat, 6-8 minutes. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender, 15-20 minutes.
• Bacon bits: In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp and browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon bits to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon fat in a small bowl and set aside.
• Return the pan to stove over low heat, and add just enough half-and-half to coat the bottom of the pan. Use a wooden spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits (or "fond"). When small bubbles form around the edges of the pan, add the rest of the half-and-half. Stir until warmed through, then remove from heat.
• Potatoes are done cooking when you can easily cut a piece in half with a fork. Drain potatoes in a colander, then add back to the pot. Turn heat to medium-low and let them dry, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1-2 minutes. When the bottom of the pot is dry, turn off the heat: they are ready for the potato ricer. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Work all the potatoes through the ricer and back into the pot. Fold in half of the warm half-and-half and gently stir to combine; avoid overmixing the potatoes, which could lead to a gluey texture. Add another ½ cup of half-and-half, and stir again. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat, and stir to combine. Add more half-and-half as needed to reach desired consistency. Then season to taste with salt and pepper (keeping in mind that the bacon bits will also add salt).
• Squeeze roasted garlic out of its skin into a small bowl, and use a fork to mash it into a paste. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to thin out the paste and continue mashing. Fold the garlic paste into the potatoes and stir to distribute evenly; then add half the bacon bits and gently stir to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl, garnish with remaining bacon bits, and serve immediately.

MASHED POTATOES WITH TURNIPS AND BACON

Steps:

• In a large heavy pan, cook bacon over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel and set aside.
• Drain off all except 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the butter and heat pan over medium heat until foaming subsides.
• Add the turnips and cook, stirring occasionally, until butter is browned and turnips are dark brown and slightly caramelized, 10-12 minutes. (if after 4 minutes turnips have not started to brown, increase heat).
• Add potatoes, broth and salt. Cook covered over low heat (broth should simmer gently; do not boil), until potatoes fall apart easily when poked with a fork and all liquid is absorbed. (25-30 minutes).
• Remove pan from heat, remove lid and allow steam to escape; about 2 minutes.
• Gently mash veggies together with a potato masher. Fold in half-and-half, reserved bacon bits and thyme. Taste for seasoning; add more salt if needed and pepper to taste.

TURNIP AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until the fat begins to render, about 4 minutes; remove from heat, and drain most of the rendered bacon drippings, reserving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet.
• Return the pan with the bacon and reserved drippings to medium heat; cook and stir the onion in the bacon and fat until translucent, about 4 minutes more. Stir the potato and turnip into the bacon mixture; cook and stir until the potato and turnip pieces are warmed, about 2 minutes.
• Add the thyme to the saucepan with enough water to cover the vegetable mixture; bring the water to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a brisk simmer until the potato and turnip are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat butter in a small skillet. Cook and stir the kale leaves until they wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Stir the kale and the cream into the simmering soup; allow to simmer together another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove thyme sprigs before serving.

CLASSIC MASHED TURNIPS

Steps:

• Peel and cut turnip like you would for mashed potatoes.
• Put in pot of water until covered and your sugar. Turnips can be very bitter so the sugar takes the bitter out. Cook until fork tender. Drain. Mash like you would potatoes. Use gravy instead of milk or whatever you mash your taters with. Enjoy!

GARLIC-THYME MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pot with 2 tablespoons salt and garlic. Add water to cover by 1 inch and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender and can be pierced easily with a fork, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes and garlic in a colander. Return to pot and cook over medium, stirring frequently, until pale, dry, and a film begins to form on bottom of pot, 2 to 3 minutes. Working in batches, press through a ricer into a large bowl, or mash directly in pot with a potato masher. Cover to keep warm.
• In a small saucepan, combine milk, butter, and thyme. Cook over medium until butter melts and milk is steaming. Discard thyme, then stir milk mixture into potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, top with a pat of butter and more pepper, and serve.

TURNIP MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Slice potatoes and turnips 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for 15-20 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain.
• Whip cooked potatoes and turnips with electric mixer, mixing until moderately smooth (don't overbeat them; a few lumps are nice).
• Add hot cream, butter and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Whip again until blended.
• Adjust thickness by adding more cream, if desired.

MASHED POTATOES AND TURNIPS WITH BACON AND THYME

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, quarter them lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Rinse well in several changes of cold water and drain.
• Cook bacon in large sauce pan over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper-towel lined plate and set aside. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
• Add butter to keep over medium heat. Add turnips and cook, stirring occasionally until butter is browned and turnips are caramelized. (10-12 minutes).
• Add potatoes, broth, and 3/4 t. salt, stir to combine. Cook, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until potatoes fall apart easily when poked with a fork, and all the liquid has been absorbed.(25-30 minutes) Remove pan from heat, remove lid and allow steam to escape for 2 minutes.
• Gently mash potatoes and turnips in saucepan with potato masher. fold in evaporated milk, reserved bacon and thyme. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.