Roasted turnips and pears with rosemary honey drizzle

The colder weather brings us turnips, parsnips and swedes but they’re a tricky bunch to convince kids to eat… Unless they’re swaddled in buttery honeyed goodness! Serve this with roast pork.

Fresh from the garden: turnips, pears, rosemary
Recipe source: adapted from a recipe by Susie Middleton in Fast, Fresh & Green (seen on marthastewart.com)
Serves: 4 as a side dish or 24 tastes

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 220C. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with baking paper and set aside.
• Scrub the turnips under running water and wipe dry. Without peeling, chop them into 2cm cubes by cutting into slices first, then rods, then cubes.
• Wash and dry the pears and prepare in the same way as the turnips, discarding the cores.
• In a large bowl, toss together turnips and pears with oil and salt until well combined. Place in an even layer on prepared baking sheet.
• Transfer to oven and roast, turning with a spatula once or twice during cooking, until browned and turnips are easily pierced with a paring knife, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking.
• Meanwhile, wash the rosemary sprig and wipe dry with paper towel. Strip the needles from the stalk and finely chop using the mezzaluna. We will need about a tablespoon’s worth.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add honey and rosemary; let simmer for a few seconds and remove from heat.
• Transfer turnips and pears to serving bowls and drizzle with butter mixture. Toss to combine and serve.

Notes: What other classic fruit and vegetable combinations can you think of? What does a turnip smell like?