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Here in Vermont the winter is upon us. The days are short and cold. What vegetables can you find in the local Farmers Market this time of year? If you want to buy vegetables that are local your choice will be limited. It is the time of year for citrus but it is shipped in. Local vegetables are limited to beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, rutabagas, turnips and winter squash.
Beets are in season in temperate climates fall through the spring, and available from storage most of the year everywhere else. Buy your beets with the greens still attached if you can. They are delicious steamed or added to a soup.
Cabbage is bright and crisp when raw and mellows and sweetened the longer it is cooked. The cooler the weather it grows in, the sweeter it tends to taste.
Carrots are available from winter storage from local growers in many areas. I have often grown enough carrots to get us through the winter. Unfortunately this year I did not have a good crop and will have to rely on local growers.
Onions can be found in your local farmers markets or perhaps you grew enough to store over the winter. I find I use onions all the time.
Rutabagas are also known as yellow turnips. They are nutty root vegetable, which are perfect in stews, roasted or mashed. If you haven’t tried this vegetable pick some up and give it a try!
Turnips have a sharp but bright and sweet flavor. We enjoy them mashed every Thanksgiving.
Winter Squash comes in all sorts of varieties and can be used in so many ways. I love winter squash and have used it in soups, salads, and casseroles.
Our gardens may not be producing but there is still an abundance of local vegetables to enjoy this time of year.
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Nancy on the Home Front 