Cooking with Root Vegetables

Root vegetables come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is that they’re high in essential vitamins and minerals. Diced, chopped or sliced,  root vegetables can be easily added to a weeknight meal.

Health Benefits of Root Vegetables
Carrots are chalk full of beta carotene, which helps with eye health. Rutabagas are a great source of vitamin C, A and B. Beets provide you with an excellent source of folic acid. And potatoes are one of the most nutrient-dense foods around. On top of all the vitamins and minerals found in root vegetables, they are also full of fibre, which many of us don’t get enough of in our daily diets.

Roasted Root Vegetables
Root vegetables can be prepared in a number of ways and added to many different dishes. While potatoes are probably the most popular root vegetable, many others can be substituted in place of potatoes. Next time you’re thinking of an alternative side dish, consider mashed rutabaga, sauteed carrots or steamed beets. One of the easiest ways to prepare root vegetables is to roast them. Choose a medley of root vegetables, chop and peel them and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for about an hour on a cookie sheet until tender. Once roasted, the root vegetables can be eaten on their own or added to pasta, soups or stews.

White Bean and Roasted Root Vegetable Stew
This hearty root vegetable stew makes for a warm, satisfying meal on a cold night and is even better the next day. Feel free to swap out the root vegetables for whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients

• 1 pound medium yellow potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch rounds
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch rounds
• 1 small celery root, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 leeks, halved and sliced into ½-inch pieces
• 1 small rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 can white beans (Cannellini or Great Northern)
• 5 sprigs thyme, leaves pulled from the stem
• 1 sprig rosemary, leaves pulled from stem and chopped
• salt and pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss parsnips, carrots, celery root, garlic and rutabaga in olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Spread root vegetables on two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Roast root vegetables for 45 minutes or until tender.

In a large pot or dutch oven, saute onions and leeks for 5 minutes. Add roasted vegetables, beans, and broth to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil and then turn heat down to low. Add rosemary and thyme and stir. Simmer for another ten minutes. Serve with thick slices of whole grain bread.

Keramikos Kitchen will be demonstrating and selling ceramic knife gift sets for Christmas and holiday shopping at Coquitlam Center.  We welcome all our readers to stop by our booth and say Hi. We’ll have all sorts of ceramic knife Christmas gift ideas on display. You can come down and pick your favourite colour ceramic knives for that special person on your list.

We will be at Coquitlam Center from November 8, 2010 – January 2, 2011.  Our booth is located upstairs in the center of the mall, next to The Body Shop.

Coquitlam Center
2929 Barnet Highway
Coquitlam, BC V3B 5R5

Google Map

Store hours:
Monday: 10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 9 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
Friday: 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm

To order Keramikos Kitchen ceramic knives online check out our online store here http://keramikoskitchen.com

Keramikos will have a sales booth at Coquitlam Center from November 1 – December 31, 2009.  Our booth is located upstairs in the center of the mall, next to The Body Shop.

Coquitlam Center
2929 Barnet Highway
Coquitlam, BC V3B 5R5

Google Map

Store hours:
Monday: 10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 9 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
Friday: 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm

To order Keramikos Kitchen ceramic knives online check out our online store here http://keramikoskitchen.com

Keramikos Kitchen will be displaying and selling our high quality ceramic knives at this year’s Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver. You can find us at booth #559 in the Marketplace. If you have never seen a ceramic knife in action please stop by our booth for a demonstration.

Tickets for the event are $15 at the door. You can save $3 when you buy advance tickets for the PNE online or at Lower Mainland retailers.

The PNE
Sat Aug 22 – Mon Sept 7
Open 11am until late everyday
Hastings @ Renfrew Street, Vancouver BC

Click here to buy advance tickets online and save

Dates + Times:

Wednesday, Feb 18th  4pm to 9pm
Thursday, Feb 19th  noon to 9pm
Friday, Feb 20th  noon to 9pm
Saturday, Feb 21st  10am to 9pm
Sunday, Feb 22nd  10am to 6pm

Tickets:

Click here to buy tickets online and save $3

Location and map information:

BC Place Stadium
777 Pacific Boulevard Vancouver, BC
Click here for map

National Home Show – Toronto
Canada’s largest home show
Fri Feb 20 – Sun Mar 1, 2009

Location
Direct Energy Centre @ Exhibition Place
100 Princes Boulevard Toronto, ON
Click here for map

Dates + Hours 
Friday February 20 11:00 am  -  9:00 pm
Saturday February 21 10:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Sunday February 22 10:00 am  – 6:00 pm
Monday February 23 11:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Tuesday February 24 11:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Wednesday February 25 11:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Thursday February 26 11:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Friday February 27 11:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Saturday February 28 10:00 am  – 9:00 pm
Sunday March 1 10:00 am  – 6:00 pm

Tickets
Tickets are available for purchase at the event gate.  You can also buy your advance tickets online and save $3.  Click here to buy advance tickets online.

If you didn’t buy a Ceramicut Knife set at the show and would like to place an order just give us a call during regular business hours at:

Phone: 604-984-2855
Email: info@keramikoskitchen.com