The Turnip Green Journey

I harvested well over a half bushel of Turnip Greens today and 
they are headed straight for Christmas Dinner.


The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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

The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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.


The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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.
The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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.
The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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.  
The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Add The Greens
  •  Stir in the cleaned chopped turnips. 

The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

 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. 
The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage
  •  Serve hot. Freezes well for up to one month.
The Turnip Green Journey at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

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
Miz Helen

Cookbook Author, Recipe Developer, Organic Gardner.


Comments

  1. You know, I have never had a turnip. I think it's time I check them out! Thanks, great pictures!

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  2. I keep trying to keep my mind open to turnips, but have had little success. My mom used to mash them and serve them as a side. I think I'd like them better camouflaged in soup.

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  3. Fresh turnips for Christmas dinner, how lucky can you get! I can taste those beautiful turnips and greens.

    Have a wonderful Christmas.

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  4. I hope you and your family have a very Blessed Christmas!
    My Mom loved turnip greens and this post reminds me of how much she loved having them for Christmas dinner :)

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  5. I have never made those, so I will need to try them!

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  6. There is a gentlemen near us who sells turnips and turnip greens from his garden, but I've never known what to do with them so I've never stopped. I will definitely have to make a point to try this before we move next month!

    And have a merry and blessed Christmas!

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  7. I have no idea if we have turnips here in Greece. I will ask next time I will go to the farmer's market. This looks like the perfect comfort food.

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  8. Thank you for the Christmas wish and blog visit. I always hated the way my mom fixed turnips. Perhaps I need to try them another way. Your recipe looks very good. Merry Christmas!

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  9. Yum. I am wishing I had some fresh greens. Merry Christmas!

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  10. Oh goodness I love from the start to the end!

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  11. My husband loves greens, but I've never learned how to fix them. Maybe I'll give it a try!

    Hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas!

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  12. ooooooo...I love to see food "from it's beginning"...Great post, Miz Helen!

    And thank you also for the Holiday wish! I hope you have a WONDERFULLLLLLLLLLL Christmas with your family! :) :) :)

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  13. Mz. Helen, your turnips look delicious. I use very similar ingredients to make collards.

    I wish you many blessings to you and yours and a Merry Christmas too!

    -Mary

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  14. Merry Christmas Miz Helen! The salad looks fabulous, garden fresh vegetables are the best! I wish I was a better gardener...maybe someday :) Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  15. Your turnip greens look so lovely and fresh - it makes me want to grow my own turnips next year! I love turnips but have never grown them myself. Thank you for a wonderful delicious and healthy recipe. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  16. Your turnip are so fresh and lovely! Wish I could grow my veggies as lovely as yours! Wishing you and family a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

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  17. Hello Miz Helen,
    Thank you for your writings last year!
    I Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

    With love from Holland,
    Linda

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  18. Your turnips look great. I love that you grew them yourselves. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

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  19. I wish i have my own garden and grow all kinds of vegetables.You are so lucky.
    I love turnip, both the root and the leaves.

    Hope you'll have a season full of happiness

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  20. Wow, your garden look healthy. Its better to cook this in your own plants.

    Just like to share with you a life quote...

    "I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer. " -- Colette

    You can get more life quotes at http://quotelandia.com/category/life

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Your visit has been very special. I look forward to your comments, they are like opening little gifts. Thank you for stopping by and hurry back!
Miz Helen