Creamed Turnips - Gourmet November 1997

3 pounds medium turnips (about 9)
4 shallots
4 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 black peppercorns
6 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
white pepper
freshly grated nutmeg

Garnish: chopped fresh parsley leaves

Peel and quarter turnips. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook turnips until tender, 15 to 20 minutes, and drain in a colander. Chop shallots.

In a heavy saucepan bring milk and cream just to a simmer and keep hot over low heat. In a 4-quart heavy kettle cook shallots in butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add thyme, salt, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes. Whisk in hot milk mixture all at
once and bring to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer sauce, whisking occasionally, 15 minutes. Pour sauce through a sieve into a large heavy saucepan and discard solids. Into sauce stir white pepper, nutmeg, and salt to taste. Turnips and sauce may be made up to this point
1 day ahead and kept separately in bowls, covered and chilled.

Return sauce to a simmer and add turnips. Cook mixture, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until turnips are heated through.

Garnish turnips with parsley. Sauce might be good used for creamed onions.

Serves 8.