Turnip carving

 Turnip carving - 

This was fun! I was intrigued, reading about the tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns in the British isles, using turnips!  (In her post on the 17th, Vedya mentioned this old practice!)

Carving turnips goes back hundreds of years, long before new world crops (including pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes and other plants) were introduced. In Switzerland, they hold a turnip lantern festival, called Räebelichtli Umzug.

Turnip hollowed with a spoon 

So - I got the largest turnip in the bin, heated it  about 10 minutes in my Air Fryer (to soften it a bit), then used a knife and spoon to scoop out the interior, and then to incise designs. 

Carved and lit from within

Since they are smaller than the new world pumpkins used these days, a battery tealight is suggested for lighting; I used a real candle for the pics - and made the handle from twine.

Another side

My friend Kathleen Schulte sent me this Pic of a carved turnip they spotted at 'a museum in Ireland. I do not recall how old it is, kinda creepy'

Irish carved turnip

I showed my finished piece to my daughter and grands - like me, my grandson Z relished sniffing the cut area and smiled, saying, 'I like turnips!' He generally likes his veggies raw - salad turnips, arugula, broccoli, purslane...

I saved the flesh, and intend to make a Root Vegetable Ragout, like the one at the end of this article from Baker Creek. And here's one for a stew with beef and turnips. 

I'll likely add leek, mushroom and garlic, fresh picked herbs - and will look for a parsnip (and maybe some burdock!) to add to the pot! 

Will you be carving a fall vegetable this year?