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Monday, April 28, 2025

Things one should never outgrow:

new ingredients.

It may surprise you, but that's turnip. This humble vegetable is a staple in Scotland, and thus it reminds me of my grandparents, so I use turnips in savory recipes often. When I discovered turnip is the main ingredient IN A CAKE (Spiced Neeps Traybake from The Scottish Cookbook), I felt compelled to master this recipe.  

Similar to carrot cake's texture, it's an absolute hug of a cake: a warm combination of cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest. Would my Grandma be impressed? I picture her smiling at me so, of course; I could do no wrong. 

Speaking of new ingredients, Canada is choosing a new Prime Minister today and a new federal government. Advanced voting suggests Canadians are engaged in what many tout as the most important election of our lives. It's true; the next four years will be no cake walk.   

My ideal Canadian leader was Terry Fox; although his shoes are impossible to fill, the leader Canadians choose today also faces a marathon. So my hope is that we choose a leader with the right ingredients, like Terry—courage, compassion, determination, perseverance, humility—a leader committed not to advancing himself, but to maintaining what we cherish and facilitating change that improves the lives of others. Plus, a leader who brings new ingredients like experience, knowledge, imagination, and finally, a leader who aims to unite us, a leader we can trust. Who is this leader? He's the opposite of the US president. 

30 comments:

Christina said...

I am not very fond of turnip... maybe 26 years in Scotland are not enough to make me love it! However, cake! Next time we have turnips languishing in the vegetable drawer, I shall remember to make cake. Fingers crossed the elections go well today

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Got my fingers crossed that Canadians will make the best choice!

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Hmm, never had a turnip. Thankfully my parents didn't eat a lot of that or I'd have had to at least try it. I hope you get a new leader who will kick trumps ass. He who bought the election and who will make us go into WWIII. Alienating all of our friends. I wish I could move!! Can it be like Vietnam and I run north and hide?

Midwest Mark said...

Best of luck on your election. Our leader has about as much brains and charisma as the turnip you write about. Less, actually.

Mary Kirkland said...

I love carrot cake and I like turnips so I would try this.

Shammickite said...

I love turnip, mashed with loads of butter and S&P and even some grated cheese baked on top. But I think the turnip cake would be absolutely super duper! Maybe I'll try it. I'm off to vote now... just have to walk to the church next door clutching my ID and my voters card. I hope my choice gets in..

jenny_o said...

I grew up eating turnip, especially for special "turkey dinner" meals. I'm very fond of the smell of turnip cooking for those meals and would miss it if it wasn't present. This sounds like a good cake!

Amen to your last two sentences. I voted in the advance polls, just in case something unexpected happened on election day and I couldn't get there. This is a big-picture election for sure; I hope this is reflected in the results.

Anonymous said...

Codex: Stress baking?
Fingers crossed. Elbows up.

CheerfulMonk said...

Fingers crossed for you! I hope you recover faster from the fiasco that we will.

Bohemian said...

In my Mom's Home Country of North Wales Turnips were eaten a lot. She had a dish she called Jobbins that was Turnips mashed with Bacon Grease as the 'gravy'. It was an acquired taste that I never quite acquired. *LOL*

DB Stewart said...

Yes! I plan to use my cake to convince my turnip-shaming friends to see its value.
P.S. I hope so too. 🤞

DB Stewart said...

Ditto. 🤞

DB Stewart said...

Never had a turnip? Whoa.
And yes, I hope he has multiple kick-ass skills. 🤞

DB Stewart said...

Dude. You just disparaged turnips. 🤣
Haha. I know this situation is difficult for us both.

DB Stewart said...

Please do.

DB Stewart said...

Thank you for voting and yes, do try it. Also, I suggest you add some brown sugar to your turnip mash.

DB Stewart said...

I love that smell too.
I voted early too. Big picture election? Well said and I hope so too.

DB Stewart said...

You get me.

DB Stewart said...

Hang in there, sir.

DB Stewart said...

Bacon grease as gravy? Whoa. Yes, all sorts of veggies get disguised by clever Moms, don't they?

Kathy G said...

I like turnips, but for some reason they never jump into my basket.

Tom said...

...I hope that Canadians vote wisely today and teach Trumpy Dumpy a lesson!!!

DB Stewart said...

There's always one in mine; however, there's also a Aero bar.

DB Stewart said...

I'd enjoy that too. 🤞

Anvilcloud said...

The vote went well, so I’ll look forward to the next four years, but the Cons still got too many votes. I am not liking the trend.

Anonymous said...

Codex: sigh of relief.

Pixie said...

I was sad to hear that the Liberals didn't get a majority, but happy to hear the Monsieur PP lost his seat. He is an odious man.
I'm not a fan of turnips, but I am a fan of cake. Perhaps I'll look at some recipes.

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

I love turnips! Here in Montreal, Canada, we get the Swedish one called Rutabaga, and this is the one I grew up with and am most familiar with. Often at Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner you will see mashed Rutabaga turnip with carrots. Whether or not it is with carrots, I have always loved turnips since I was a little girl and I am 68 now. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Bill said...

Not a fan of turnips. Always hated it as a kid and that was enough for me. :)

Mr. Shife said...

I could never imagine eating a turnip cake but your recipe doesn't sound too shabby. The elections turned out pretty good for you according to what I have seen and heard from a few Canadian friends. You guys definitely did better than us in picking a new leader.