At last! The humble rutabaga getting the attention it deserves 😍 it’s still high, humid summer here in New Zealand and rutabaga are not prolific as they should be - however I’ve still never wanted to make a soup more.
Hi - Alison’s mom here. What a wonderful way to celebrate split peas. I will eat soup and everything else with you (preferably crispy) and listen to whatever you want to say. 🙋♀️😍 love you
oh my gosh. Split pea soup was my dad's favorite, and was thrilled to get this recipe. And then the rutabaga! I remember him teasing me about making me eat a rutabaga when I was little, and hated vegetables. I had no idea what it was, but the word was awful. Years ago, when shopping at the Union Square market, I bought a rutabaga, vowing to conquer my fear. I loved it! I bragged about it to my parents. This recipe was like a kiss from my dad. Thanks for that. I miss him.
Literally have a ham hock in the fridge and was thinking, I wish there was an A Romes split pea recipe - alas you have made my wishes (dreams) come true ✨
My mother’s coffee table Picture Cookbook from Time Life has a recipe for Split pea soup. I’ve been making this since my twenties. The recipe calls for a ham hock and to add sliced kosher franks at the end of cooking time. I’ve never added the hot dogs and sometimes leave out the ham hock. I do purée it though (mea culpa!) and top it with homemade croutons. I still have the book —copyright 1958! The food styling back in the day is really something. 🤣🤣🤣
"I lost my virginity." It suddenly struck me that this is an oddly archaic turn of phrase. Shouldn't it be "I gained my . . . what?" Deep understanding of male inadequacy? Sense of infinite possibilities? Freedom? I'm just a guy so what do I know, but I think I'm onto something here.
Makes me think of Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella, somewhere between UC Berkeley and my parents home in SoCal. They offered all-you-can-eat pea soup for just a couple of bucks, perfect for a hungry student making that drive.
My mother used to make mashed rutabagas for Thanksgiving dinner in place of the sweet potatoes most people ate. IDK where she got that idea, but we kids grew up loving them.
The wax on the outside of the "bagos" is to extend the shelf life, because frankly they just don't sell that fast.
Another great example of why I love your writing, Alison.
I’ve always loved split pea soup, and my mother always made it with a smoked ham hock—something you used to be able to easily buy at low cost. When I was a little kid I asked for swippy soup and it still makes me me and my mom laugh. It’s pretty impossible to make a bad split pea soup, and so delicious!
One of the first foods I ate when I emigrated to Montreal was split pea soup! So good and a part of the Quebecois heritage. I love Rutabaga which I know as Swede. My grandad grew a million of them which we ate all winter when I was a kid. To this day a favourite veg in my family is mashed swede and carrot with lots of pepper and butter. Happy that you are featuring this humble veg!
You had me at Rutabaga! I swear this is the first time I have ever seen it in a recipe that's not my own. I discovered this amazing vegetable by accident when I thought it was a malformed turnip that I decided to save. Don't ask.
However, that refreshing, crispy cabbage taste made it a must for slicing into matchsticks or chunks for salads, ramen, soups, stews, topping, stir-fries, a new take on slaw, and to just munch on. Also. a great replacement for a potato, being either mashed, roasted or french-fried.
For others new to it, enjoy it raw. Love bacon and breadcrumbs, but THIS should be your crunchy topping. So nutritious and a great addition to healthy eating. It will make you happy. If you're lucky enough to get it with leaves (a rare find), they are delicious greens.
Being old school I usually just love my childhood pea soup (i.e. plain), with maybe some cut-up ham or - only if serious nostalgia kicks in - sliced hot dogs mixed in. Now it's time to be an adult and elevate it with the amazing Rutabaga!
What a beautiful story. I had negative associations with pea soup, but now I want to make it. For Shabbat dinner. Too bad my stepchildren keep kosher! (I’ll make it next week when they’re with their mom).
The Exorcist. I'm sorry, Alison. I'll show myself out.
Can't wait to try this. I love peas soup. Welcome back! You were missed!!!
At last! The humble rutabaga getting the attention it deserves 😍 it’s still high, humid summer here in New Zealand and rutabaga are not prolific as they should be - however I’ve still never wanted to make a soup more.
We have a LOT of leftover ham. Got to do something with it!
Hi - Alison’s mom here. What a wonderful way to celebrate split peas. I will eat soup and everything else with you (preferably crispy) and listen to whatever you want to say. 🙋♀️😍 love you
oh my gosh. Split pea soup was my dad's favorite, and was thrilled to get this recipe. And then the rutabaga! I remember him teasing me about making me eat a rutabaga when I was little, and hated vegetables. I had no idea what it was, but the word was awful. Years ago, when shopping at the Union Square market, I bought a rutabaga, vowing to conquer my fear. I loved it! I bragged about it to my parents. This recipe was like a kiss from my dad. Thanks for that. I miss him.
Literally have a ham hock in the fridge and was thinking, I wish there was an A Romes split pea recipe - alas you have made my wishes (dreams) come true ✨
My mother’s coffee table Picture Cookbook from Time Life has a recipe for Split pea soup. I’ve been making this since my twenties. The recipe calls for a ham hock and to add sliced kosher franks at the end of cooking time. I’ve never added the hot dogs and sometimes leave out the ham hock. I do purée it though (mea culpa!) and top it with homemade croutons. I still have the book —copyright 1958! The food styling back in the day is really something. 🤣🤣🤣
"I lost my virginity." It suddenly struck me that this is an oddly archaic turn of phrase. Shouldn't it be "I gained my . . . what?" Deep understanding of male inadequacy? Sense of infinite possibilities? Freedom? I'm just a guy so what do I know, but I think I'm onto something here.
(I'll probably regret posting this. 🤪 )
Makes me think of Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella, somewhere between UC Berkeley and my parents home in SoCal. They offered all-you-can-eat pea soup for just a couple of bucks, perfect for a hungry student making that drive.
My mother used to make mashed rutabagas for Thanksgiving dinner in place of the sweet potatoes most people ate. IDK where she got that idea, but we kids grew up loving them.
The wax on the outside of the "bagos" is to extend the shelf life, because frankly they just don't sell that fast.
Another great example of why I love your writing, Alison.
I’ve always loved split pea soup, and my mother always made it with a smoked ham hock—something you used to be able to easily buy at low cost. When I was a little kid I asked for swippy soup and it still makes me me and my mom laugh. It’s pretty impossible to make a bad split pea soup, and so delicious!
One of the first foods I ate when I emigrated to Montreal was split pea soup! So good and a part of the Quebecois heritage. I love Rutabaga which I know as Swede. My grandad grew a million of them which we ate all winter when I was a kid. To this day a favourite veg in my family is mashed swede and carrot with lots of pepper and butter. Happy that you are featuring this humble veg!
You had me at Rutabaga! I swear this is the first time I have ever seen it in a recipe that's not my own. I discovered this amazing vegetable by accident when I thought it was a malformed turnip that I decided to save. Don't ask.
However, that refreshing, crispy cabbage taste made it a must for slicing into matchsticks or chunks for salads, ramen, soups, stews, topping, stir-fries, a new take on slaw, and to just munch on. Also. a great replacement for a potato, being either mashed, roasted or french-fried.
For others new to it, enjoy it raw. Love bacon and breadcrumbs, but THIS should be your crunchy topping. So nutritious and a great addition to healthy eating. It will make you happy. If you're lucky enough to get it with leaves (a rare find), they are delicious greens.
Being old school I usually just love my childhood pea soup (i.e. plain), with maybe some cut-up ham or - only if serious nostalgia kicks in - sliced hot dogs mixed in. Now it's time to be an adult and elevate it with the amazing Rutabaga!
What a beautiful story. I had negative associations with pea soup, but now I want to make it. For Shabbat dinner. Too bad my stepchildren keep kosher! (I’ll make it next week when they’re with their mom).
What do I think of when i hear "pea soup".. Mmmm, well I am French Canadian :D (look it up)... Otherwise! I love it .. tastes like my childhood!
I come for the recipes but I stay for the “side of teenage vulnerability.” Thank you for that, Alison!