Sunday, October 18, 2015

Some Potpouri and Sea-Run Brook Trout

White turnips, aka purple top turnips are a great substitution for potatoes. This variety of turnip is not like those gas filled bitter tasting yellow waxed rutabagas that seem to be familiar to most of us, instead they are sweet and tender and have a bright white flesh. They can be used in any meal that calls for potatoes. I have used them in stews, soups, they're wonderful mashed and when roasted with other root vegetables will top the rest of the meal. One of my favorite ways of making the white turnip is to peel, "which they do very easily" then dice them and drop them into boiling water with a pinch of salt. Boil until fork tender which is about 15 minutes, drain and then add them to a skillet in which is some oil, or if you have bacon fat would be awesome. Season with salt and pepper if desired and paprika and fry "til golden brown.



Fried white turnip....great instead of breakfast potatoes.


Some of the streamers that work on searun brook trout
I just want to pass along to you something I think is very worthwhile, and not only to trout fisherman but to all who love the outdoors in its natural setting. The link is to the Sea-Run Brook Trout Coalition.....http://www.searunbrookie.org/
 
They have done such a wonderful job of trying to restore this very unique brook trout to its native streams. When you access the site you can access their Facebook page in which you'll find current doings. I hope you'll take the time to check them out. Just in case the link doesn't work the one below this post will.



12 comments:

  1. Alan, I can only imagine what a great experience it would be to see those beauties!

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    1. Howard Levett
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      Howard they're truly unique.

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  2. i want your header shot as a picture puzzle. you can keep the turnips. :)

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    1. TexWisGirl
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      Theresa I can understand you request.

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  3. Alan
    Are the wild sea brook trout as colorful as the native brook in the small streams you fish near your home? I will have to get the wife to try the white turnips. I love turnips greens with the white turnips mixed in with the greens. Cathey can cook some of the best I have ever tasted. Thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill they are. These fish live in fresh water, they spawn in fresh water so they have the same coloration as all wild brook trout. Only some of them choose to drop back into salt water where the food sources are so much better. They eat and grow big. In the salt water their coloration changes to a pale sort of blue, I guess it's for camouflage purposes. But when they return to fresh water they assume the normal brook trout coloration.
      Have Cathey fry up some turnip, I'm sure you two will enjoy it.

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  4. Never eaten a turnip in my life...now you've piqued my interest and I'm gonna have to try them. I'd eat a flip-flop if you fried it in a skillet with some bacon grease, just saying.

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    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher
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      Jeff we are of the same when it comes to the way we will prepare foods, and anything cooked in bacon fat....wow.

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  5. Love the greens. Not as fond of the bulb.

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    1. Brad Sprinkle
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      Brad now I have to try the greens. Any recipes?

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  6. It must be quite a risky venture for the brookies to leave their streams and enter the ocean where stripers and blue fish would love to feed on them. Nature is amazing where a few survivors make it back to the stream and start the cycle over again.

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    1. Parachute Adams
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      Sam it just blows my mind at the hardships these fish face. They continue to survive and where we help them along they seem to be getting stronger.

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