SERVES 6
The Macomber turnips found at Bartlett’s Farm in late fall are true heirloom turnips. John Bartlett Jr., whom everyone called June, began planting these turnips around 1910 and the seeds have been preserved each year since. This large, green-topped variety of turnip is incredibly sweet and versatile. They are terrific mashed, roasted, or pureed into soups. This recipe is rich and decadent. Perfect for a special holiday dinner.
INGREDIENTS
5 pounds Macomber turnips (or other green-topped turnips)
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups grated Comté cheese
2 ounces fresh black truffle, shaved
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 12-inch gratin dish.
Peel the turnips and slice them into ¼-inch-thick slices. (This can be done with either a mandoline, a kitchen knife, or the slicing attachment on a food processor.) Layer the turnips in overlapping rows in the gratin dish.
In a bowl, stir together the cream, Comté, half the truffle, the garlic, thyme, salt, and nutmeg. Pour over the turnips. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes; the turnips will be tender at this point and most of the cream absorbed. Set the oven to broil, remove the aluminum foil, and finish the gratin under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes to brown the top layer of turnips. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn!
Sprinkle with the remaining truffle and serve.
NOTE: If fresh truffles are difficult to find, canned truffles or a little truffle oil can be substituted.
There is no better way to get to know Nantucket island than on foot. Lucky for you, a guided hiking service, Nantucket Walkabout, is available year-round. The founder and lead guide, Peter Brace, leads two-hour walks winter, spring, summer, and fall, and offers a variety of itineraries from which to choose. The entire list of near-daily options includes each of Nantucket’s protected lands, which are considerable, encompassing a variety of landscapes. You would need to spend weeks on the island to take them all in: Smith’s Point, Sankaty Bluffs, Lost Farm Loop, Smooth Hummocks, and too many other walks to list await you. Check out a map and see which part of a place the Nature Conservancy has cited as “one of the last great places on earth” calls to you for a walkabout.
While you enjoy the pleasure of walking in the great outdoors taking in the beauty of the land and vistas, you’ll be learning. Peter is a naturalist and published author and can tell you about the glacier that shaped Nantucket; how Nantucket got its unique collection of plants and wildlife; the marks left on the land by Native Americans and European settlers; contemporary conservation efforts; and a whole lot more. Each hike is part bird watching, part botany lesson, part geology class, and always, a glimpse into why Peter finds each exploration new and fascinating.
Select from a planned itinerary or talk with Peter about a customized walk. Sign up for a group hike if you enjoy meeting other travelers or reserve a private guided walk, for you and your family and friends only. And don’t be surprised if, when your walk ends, you find yourself more in love with the island than ever. Peter’s passion for the place is why he made Nantucket his year-round home twenty-five years ago.