Christmas Veg

[Gruney]

I asked this last year, or maybe the one before, but alas I cannot find the responses. It's a very quickie, please. I'm seeking to avoid the loathesome supermarket crowding and parking nearer the day, and get all the bulky stuff as early as possible. Is it too early to be getting potatoes, root veg and Savoy, for storagein the garage?

[Suelle]

I'm buying mine tomorrow, so I hope it will be OK. Actually, I'm sure it will!

[Herbidacious]

There were no parsnips in the supermarkets on Sunday. I should probably get some asap. The one thing my mother has requested.

[Gruney]

Thanks Sue - that's a big help.

[MagicMarmite]

It should be fine bought now.

[MagicMarmite]

I buy frozen parsnips now, they are actually very good.

[Seatallan]

I think it'll be spot-on Gruney. I've a delivery tomorrow with all the Christmas veg. It'll be fine in the garage.

[karadekoolaid]

It´s only 8 days to Xmas. In the cool English climate, you´d be just fine buying your veg today.
When I cook them here, I actually prep all the veg (apart from the roast potatoes) a few days before, and stick them in the freezer. Peel the carrots, cut into what ever shape I want, ziploc bag, freezer. No blanching. The same with the sprouts ( and no, I don´t cut an X in the bottoms!)
One year I did a roasted sweet/sour beetroot for Xmas as well. I partially cooked the beets beforehand, then just finished them off before lunch.

[Badger's mate]

My spuds and root veg are in the shed anyway, they'll be fine for months.

Greens last less long, although solid white or red cabbages and sprout stalks will last weeks in cool weather. Cut leafy greens are less long-lived but a week or two will be fine. At worst they'll have slightly brown or soft outer leaves that can be removed (you might well have removed them in any case). Ditto leeks.

HTH

[MagicMarmite]

You can't have sprouts without an x in the bottom!
It was my job growing up and now it's Dd's job.
They'll be served with our New year's steak pie though, no traditional dinner here this year.

[wargarden]

though know not tradition veg.
I will have a classic veg for christmas
green beans

[Oat]

My other half will be having marrofat peas He insists!

[earthmaiden]

The important thing is that people have what they like! My share of the parsnips and marrowfat peas will be going begging!

[northleedsbhoy]

[wargarden]

[Seatallan]

[suffolk]

We grow broad beans, runners and sometimes climbing and/or French or borlotti beans . We freeze some of the runners as they are so prolific, but we tend to eat most of the others as they are ready ... we like eating seasonally ... our menu changes with the seasons

[Badger's mate]

We eat seasonally but there are gluts and therefore surplus produce is preserved. It lends variety through the year and something home grown during the 'hungry gap'. There's plenty of fresh seasonal veg at Christmas in the UK, but some people just like peas and sweetcorn.

[suffolk]

I've just discovered one last bag of this year's runner beans in the back of the freezer. Think I'll save them to have with a fish pie.

[aero280]

Depending on your view, some people may have been saved from some unloved veg this Christmas...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... e-50811266

[earthmaiden]

That is so sad when you think of all the efforts to grow and pick. I wonder if they are able to save any.

[Seatallan]

[PatsyMFagan]

[suffolk]

They may be rejected for humans because of a risk of contamination ... they may be sent for stock feed or to a bio-digester to produce ‘green’ energy.

[Suelle]

I thought I'd report on the fact that I bought my Christmas sprouts on 18th December. They were dated Best Before 20th December, but went straight into the fridge when I got home. I'm still using them, 3 weeks after the BB date. I needed to peel off an extra layer of wilted leaves, but underneath that the sprouts are still firm. There's at least one more meal to go!

[suffolk]

We frequently buy sprouts on the stalk and just leave them outside, propped up between the back wall and a water butt ... they keep out there for weeks ... even months

[Herbidacious]

You've just reminded me I have some, but htey are in a bg. Maybe worse for wear. The cauliflower I bought just after Christmas was alright the other night though. Possibly won't stir fry the baby Brussels, as was my original intention, though, assumign they are edible...