cooking for people who don't: random fruits and vegetables edition?

[ursula]

commodorified is organizing a blog "carnival" with the theme "Cooking for People who Don't: Food Security". As far as cooking goes, I am definitely a Person Who Does; I didn't exactly learn to cook at my mother's knee (we're too territorial about our kitchens, in my family), but I did acquire a general sense of fearlessness. That means I can't give good advice on overcoming one's trepidation in the kitchen (as far as I'm concerned, the best strategy is to cook all the time and use sharper knives), but maybe I can suggest specific recipes for scary foodstuffs?

In particular, I'd like to write a post (or three) on How To Make That Fruit or Vegetable Into Dinner. I'm taking nominations for fruits and vegetables. Is there a fruit or vegetable you particularly love, that you'd like more recipes for? Is there a fruit or vegetable that you don't know how to use? Right now I'm thinking of apples and beets, because of the season, but I'm open to suggestions.

Comments

[pinesandmaples]

I'm a pretty serious cook, but I know lots of people are utterly mystified by kale. It has tons of health benefits so everyone wants to cook with it, but it often rots in the fridge.

[aedifica]

Lentils? Zucchini?

[crystalpyramid]

I would love ideas for lentils and lentil-type things. Also, I am mystified by turnips, and whatever other root vegetables besides carrots, potatoes, and onions tend to show up in farmer's markets and such.

[zhelana]

Well almost on topic, I'm trying to make Svekol'nik, and I can't figure out what to do with the beets. The recipe just says put them in the water, but certainly you do something to them first that i should know and don't??