You know what's underappreciated?

[Rain Man]

Root vegetables.

Everyone likes potatoes, so they're not really underappreciated. And onions, too. And carrots, of course. They're the Big Three. But it's the others that don't get the recognition they deserve. Turnips. Rutabagas. Parsnips. Beets. You take a bunch of those and cook them up in the oven, and you've got a tasty and nutritious side dish with very little effort.

Seriously, parsnips can roll with the best of them. You can't beat a good batch of parsnips, but in truth the four of them are more like a quartet. You can have a good tenor, a good alto, a good bass, and a good soprano, but it's when you cook them all up together that you really get that harmony that makes you tap your feet.

Root vegetables. If you haven't had them, do so tonight. They're available at your nearest grocer.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by FAX

Sounds good, Mr. RJ. Better than boiled yard gnome, anyhow.

Discussing yard gnome recipes reminds me of the Middle Ages. Back then, of course, people were dying right and left from plague and smallpox and crotch rot and all kinds of horrible diseases. Interestingly, it was during this time that faeries and gnomes and elfs and brownies and other little people started popping up everywhere. Never, however, do you read about anybody trying to cook a faerie or an elf. I suppose they were too fast to catch. I guess, that's why they stuck to capturing and eating root vegetables which are slow.

FAX

And that, Mr. FAX, is why the Irish ate so many potatoes. It is far, far easier to catch a potato than it is to catch a leprechaun or an elf or a fairy. Those little creatures are smart and quick. A potato, on the other hand.....well, if you can't catch a potato you probably can't catch a cold.

It's not a coincidence that there was a Great Potato Famine and not a Great Leprechaun Famine. The Irish were smart enough to not rely on leprechauns as a food source.

I've read that the Russians had devised a clever means of catching the little creatures, but abandoned the practice when they learned that they couldn't be used for making vodka. I'm not sure how true that is.

[Rain Man]

People don't eat leprechauns and fairies because they're afraid of getting bones stuck in their throat. That stuff is worse than trout.

[LaChapelle]

Things you'd find in the cellar other than the Chiefs for $100 Alex

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

People don't eat leprechauns and fairies because they're afraid of getting bones stuck in their throat. That stuff is worse than trout.

Leprechauns are worth the risk. They're drunkards by nature... marinate their own meat. The bones aren't much a problem if you cook them properly.

[BigOlChiefsfan]

Turnip Gratin

Roasted beets

Parmesan Parsnips

Maple Glazed Carrots

Not a root vegetable but under-appreciated

roasted garlic new potatoes

sweet potato tipsy

Yucca with Garlic Sauce