We have belonged to a CSA for many years. We are very fortunate because our CSA has established a reciprocal buying arrangement with a number of other farms, which allows them to provide a farm share option year round.  We pick up our weekly bounty of fresh, organic fruits, vegetables and eggs at our local drop off location (which happens to be our neighbor/friend’s home). There is a sense of adventure that comes along with picking up our weekly share.

We never know what will appear in our box from week to week.

This week we were greeted by a rather scary looking vegetable. I am trying so hard to see the beauty in this “thing”, but it’s really ugly and creepy looking.

Thankfully I was able to go on the CSA website to figure out what it was and whether it was edible. Before knowing its given name I gave it my own: Medusa (pretty self explanatory).

Do you know what it is?

Give it your best shot and then I’ll post the answer.

I also need some suggestions what to do with it.
Would you  peel or not peel?

Update on the Ugly Organic Vegetable

ANSWER:

Thanks to everyone who participated in the guessing game-and there were some fantastic guesses! Three of you got it right! If you guessed this interesting and ugly vegetable was celeriac aka celery root you would have been correct!

A bit of celeriac info:

• Celeriac is a root vegetable and is cousin to anise, carrots, parsley and parsnips
• Celeriac can be a perfect non-starch substitute for potatoes

I might try THIS recipe for french-fried celeriac (baking the fries instead of deep frying).  Thanks for all the great cooking and salad suggestions!

*Top Photo used under Creative Commons from Jennifer B.