What are you cooking today?

[cookie1]

I'm going to convert a strawberry fool from a magazine for dinner and make a Date and Sultana slice.  Will post the slice recipe and if the other is a success will do that too.

[JulieO]

Yum, yes please Cookie. 

I'm still clearing out the freezer and today's meal was using salmon fillets. I made a recipe I have made before which is really nice called Spiced salmon with parsnip puree & orange butter sauce.  Such a simple recipe, but I did manage to make the parsnip puree in the TM, which after cooking was mixed with a bit of butter, salt & pepper, orange zest and just a tiny bit of cream.
Served with salad. 

[Sim]

that looks amazing! i really want to cook that now... I've got salmon in my freezer.... mmmm....

[Thermomixer]

Love parsnip puree - good work JulieO - and thanks for changing the tide on taste 

[judydawn]

I love roasted parsnips but DH hates it (probably from his childhood where he had to eat boiled turnips & parsnips).  This puree looks really nice - would he know it was parsnip JulieO or am I dreaming, thinking I could fool him   I've never had it any other way than roasted myself.

[faffa_70]

Judy you are missing out, I have parsnip steamed with my veg when ever we have steamed veg, along with beetroot which is also lovely roasted. I think the parsnip puree would have a parsnip flavour lol - mine even picked it when I tried to hide it in mashed potato as only DS3 eats parsnip steamed 

[judydawn]

Easy enough to give it a go Kathryn.  I'll just buy 1 small parsnip for myself and put it with other vegies. Can't imagine I am going to like it steamed though but can't expect DH to eat his vegies if I don't eat mine. Do you smother it with butter to give it some taste

Nice photo again JulieO - keep them coming.

[JulieO]

Judy, I'll tell you how I did the parsnips, they turned out really lovely.  Will be enough for 2 serves like you see in the photo, or you could stretch to 3.  Give it a try, if you don't like then at least you would have tried them. 

3 medium parsnips (about 400g)
about 35g butter
salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp orange zest (you'll be able to try out your new zester  )
2 tblsp cream

Peel the parsnips, and cut into chunks (like potato salad) and put into strainer basket.
 
Put 500g water into TM bowl, add pinch salt

Place basket into TM bowl.  Cook on Varoma temp, approx 15 mins/speed spoon.  Test to make sure parsnips are tender otherwise cook further couple of mins.(mine were done in the 15 mins)

Remove basket from bowl, discard cooking water. Empty the parsnips back into bowl, add butter, cream, seasonings & zest.
Slowly turn speed up to about 5 for a few seconds until parsnips are broken up.
Add butterfly and mix speed 4/until smooth.

[Thermomixer]

I love roasted parsnips but DH hates it (probably from his childhood where he had to eat boiled turnips & parsnips).  This puree looks really nice - would he know it was parsnip JulieO or am I dreaming, thinking I could fool him   I've never had it any other way than roasted myself.

I have a recipe for parsnip puff - Beverley Sutherland-Smith recipe - which I am certain DH would love - just don't tell him what it is.  I took a picture - but it doesn't look like anything that I would eat, so never posted it - homework.

[JulieO]

Love parsnip puree - good work JulieO - and thanks for changing the tide on taste 

Thanks Thermomixer, I've tried to be honest in all I've written and I've had a couple of PM's, one today actually, thankiing me which was nice.  It's hard curbing my enthusiasm sometimes. 

Thankyou Sim and Judy. 

[faffa_70]

Don't curb it Julie, some of us need it to inspire our butts into action 

[judydawn]

Yes, it takes someone like you to inspire us all JulieO - it must make you feel good too so it works both ways.  Thanks for the recipe for parsnip puree.  I will give it a go when I receive my zester for sure.

[cookie1]

Julie your photos are truly inspirational. It means so much more when we can see the finished product being presented so beautifully.

We often have parsnip and carrot mashed together with a drop of butter and lots of freshly ground pepper.

[faffa_70]

Yumm Cookie, I like that idea too

[JulieO]

Thanks Cookie.  I like the suggestion of carrots to the parsnips too, will try that. 

Just made a hot cross tea bread (posted in the breads section).  Really pleased how it turned out and it looks pretty impressive, would be perfect to serve at Easter or anytime minus the cross. 

Can't wait to try it toasted in the morning.