Roasted Parsnips, Carrots and Potatoes

We enjoy going to our local farmers' market on Saturday.  Although the market is open year round, the selection of vegetables and fruits is quite limited in winter.  We bought some fresh carrots, parsnips,  potatoes, garlic, basil and rosemary during our last visit.  Yesterday, I used all these ingredients and made a very delicious side dish for dinner. Apparently, you don't need a fancy recipe to make a tasty dish when you use fresh ingredients.  They can produce their own flavors.  Adding too much seasoning may destroy the purpose of buying them fresh.  

Before they go into the oven

Ingredients

1/2 lb parsnips 

8 baby carrots - 5" to 6" long

6 small red potatoes - 12 oz.

2 garlic cloves - chopped

2 basil leaves - chopped

2 rosemary sprigs 

1 tablespoon butter - melted 

2 tablespoons olive oil - extra for greasing the baking pan

Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Brush the bottom of a 9"X 13" baking pan with oil.
3. Peel parsnips and carrots.  Cut parsnips in half crosswise, and then into strips lengthwise.  
4. Cut small potatoes into chunks without peeling the skin.  
5. In a large mixing bowl, toss the first six ingredients with butter and olive oil until evenly coated.  
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Transfer to the greased baking pan.
8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender.  Toss once during baking.
9. Transfer to a serving dish.

Makes 3 to 4 servings.