"Mr. Bill" > wrote in message
news
> On Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:44:40 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>>I don't understand the reason for
>>blanching the vegetables.
>
> That made me go ...hummmm.... too!

I find that potatoes and carrots cook far more slowly than onions and
parsnips, hence the blanching .