Rutabaga...

Now that is a Rutabaga!! Amanda found this out in our garden and I could not believe how big it was. I truly thought that the only thing this would be good for was the chickens or the compost pile. But after Brian's search on the Internet for recipes and some encouragement to just cook the thing, I did it and was pleasantly surprised. It tasted a bit nutty and starchy like a potato, but wasn't bitter like I had thought it would be.

And I did learn a few things about Rutabagas...

• They are also called Swedes
• In Ireland they used to carve them like pumpkins
• Forest Grove, OR is the rutabaga capital of the NW, where there is a study group dedicated to Rutabagas
• They were a food staple of soldiers during WWI
• You can cook them just like a potato

...it's a good thing too, because we have a whole row of them just waiting out in the garden!