This week your basket contains: potatoes, leeks, rutabagas, celeriac, winter squash, BRUSSELS SPROUTS,  salad mix (lettuce, radicchio, endive, arugula, and fennel fronds), and shallots

THIS WEEK IS THE FINAL BASKET WE WILL BE DELIVERING THIS MONTH.  Normal deliveries will resume Jan. 10^th.  The winter squash this week are called Tetsukabuto (iron helmet in Japanese).   They keep very well, produce will in our climate, and bet of all, are very tasty.  While the recipe below calls for a different type of squash, it will work well with your Tetsukabuto.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND YUKON GOLD GRATIN

2 Tbs. unsalted butter

4 c. thinly sliced onions

1 ¼ lb. butternut squash

1 ¼ lb. Yukon Gold potatoes

1 c. half-and-half

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

2 c. fresh sourdough breadcrumbs

2c. grated gruyere cheese

1 ½ Tbsp. fresh sage

Peel seed and slice squash into ¼-inch thick slices. Peel and cut potatoes into ¼-inch thick slices. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet and add onions. Cook over medium-high heat until deeply caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes. Lay alternate layers of squash and potatoes in baking dish. Layer onions on top. Mix half-and-half, salt and pepper and pour over onions. Cover tightly with foil and bake 90 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese and sage in medium bowl. Sprinkle over gratin. Bake uncovered until top is golden brown and crisp, about 30 minutes. Serves 8.

The recipe below calls for a lot of rutabaga and should be modified to account for the more modest rutabagas in your basket.

CREAMY, SMOKY WHIPPED RUTABAGA

3 1/2 to 4 pounds rutabagas (two small or one large vegetable)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup whole milk
4 ounces cream cheese, cut into small chunks
2 tablespoons smoked olive oil
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Freshly ground black pepper

Cut the rutabaga(s) in half crosswise. Place a half cut side down on a stabilized cutting board and carefully shave off the peel with a large chef’s knife. Cut the peeled rutabaga into small slices about 1 inch thick. Repeat with the rest of the rutabaga. Heat the butter in a large, heavy 4-quart pot, set over medium heat. When the butter has melted, stir in the chopped rutabaga and the garlic. Stir to coat the vegetables in butter, then sprinkle them with the salt. Pour in the milk and bring to a simmer, then turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook for 30 minutes, or until the rutabaga is very tender and can be easily pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat and remove the lid. Let the vegetables cool for about 5 minutes. At this point you can either leave the rutabaga in the pot and use a hand mixer to whip it, or you can transfer it to the bowl of a stand mixer and use the paddle. Drop the cream cheese into the rutabaga and use the hand mixer or stand mixer to mash it into the vegetables. The rutabaga will crumble then slowly turn into a mashed potato consistency. Add the olive oil and smoked paprika and mix thoroughly. Taste and add more salt and some black pepper, if necessary. Serve immediately.  Adapted from thekitchn.com.

The recipe below can be made with winter squash in place of the sweet potatoes.

SWEET POTATO HASH WITH VEGETABLES

1 leek,

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

3 small sweet potatoes,

1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded

2 cups chopped kale

5 eggs

Extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

black pepper

In a large, nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Into the warm oil, add leeks and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, or until they are fragrant and softened. Stir in red pepper flakes, then add the shredded potatoes, stir to incorporate leeks and press into a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes, or until a browned crust begins to form. Stir and cook for 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Stir Brussels sprouts into the potato mixture and cook, stirring frequently for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until sprouts start to wilt. Next add the kale and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.  Meanwhile, in another large, greased skillet over medium-high heat, crack 5 eggs. Cook eggs until the whites are set (for over easy, flip eggs after the whites set slightly and then cook on other side for 30 seconds to a minute). Serve hash hot with a fried egg on top.