CHRISTMAS VEGETABLES: Herby roast potatoes, honeyed parsnips and orange carrots

Ingredients:

1.5 kg King Edward potatoes, peeled and halved
½ bulb garlic, separated into cloves and crushed with the back of a knife
1 small bunch of fresh rosemary, separated into sprigs
salt
freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons good-quality olive oil
50 g butter
2 kg parsnips
2 tablespoons runny honey
1 small bunch fresh thyme, leaves picked
1 kg carrots, cut at an angle into 2 inch pieces
zest of 1 orange

Method:

Preheat your oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7. Parboil your potatoes for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and toss around to scruff up the outside of the spuds. Toss with the garlic cloves, half of the rosemary, salt and pepper to taste, 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, and 30g of the butter in a large bowl. Arrange in one layer in a roasting tin and roast for 45 minutes until golden.

For the parsnips, cut them in half lengthways, parboil for 10 minutes and drain. Toss with the honey, thyme, salt and pepper to taste, 10g of the butter and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Lay the parsnips flat in a roasting tin in one layer, and roast for about 40 minutes until golden.

Put your carrots in a pan, cover with cold water and add a pinch of salt. Boil for about 15 minutes or until cooked. Meanwhile, finely chop the remaining rosemary and the orange zest together to mix. Drain the cooked carrots and toss with the remaining butter. Season to taste and sprinkle with the orange zest and rosemary before serving.