In my 60 years, I think I may have eaten one whole rutabaga…If you add up all the bites.
I guess I think of it as an “old-fashioned” vegetable that Mama Runion, Mama Gravley, Memon (My wife’s mom,) or my mom would find as a treasure if someone gave them some. They would dream up a table full of food to go with the rutabagas. And I, along with most young people of that day, would find a way to only eat the chicken and macaroni…and, “No thanks to the rutabagas.”
In researching, I found that rutabaga literally means, “root bag.” Now who wants to eat a root bag? It seems that it comes from Sweden and there along with parts of the UK and Australia, it is called a “swede.” I believe if Mother had said, “Son let’s eat some swedes today.” I may have dug in.
But think about the potato. We have a brand new bag of great looking russets right now and I am thinking of all the possibilities…Baked, boiled, french-fried, hash browned, mashed, or just lightly peeled and thrown in the crock pot with a junky-lot of good items….mmmm.
My dad always said he was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. My dad was a potato and I think he taught me to be a potato too.
When I tell people I have a degree in English, they think that is all I know. They think I will correct their pronoun usage, but can’t discuss the founding of the thirteen colonies, or can’t plant great tomatoes.
Maybe you are proud to be a rutabaga surrounded by well-seasoned others. But my wife, and son, and his wife, and I are teaching our grandchildren to be potatoes. And they are delightful ….No longer “tots” though. I had to throw that in. They are so quick on wit and humor, we will be talking about potatoes all afternoon.
God I thank You for rutabagas. They are feeding and sustaining life for some people, somewhere today.
But I thank You for my potatoes and those who taught me to be versatile, and useful to many in many ways.
MY CHILD, LISTEN AND ACCEPT WHAT I SAY. THEN YOU WILL HAVE A LONG LIFE, I AM GUIDING YOU IN THE WAY OF WISDOM. AND I AM LEADING YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH. Proverbs 4:10-11.
Would you need salt and ketchup with that?
the story never ends... 