Just Beet It

I have a running shirt that says “just beet it”.  It makes me smile when I wear it.  Beets are just fun that way.  I bought my shirt at the Engine 2 Retreat  I attended this past summer, a big step in honoring my intention to eat healthy.  It was an incredible weekend of food, friends, learning and beets.  Not only did I buy a super cool shirt, I found several other beet lovers who were happy to share their recipes with me.

Where do I buy beets?

I have been blessed to have beets in my CSA box.  (read more here on how I picked my farmer! for my local readers–check out these local options.)  Currently, I support 3 local farms–2 of these are less than 5 miles from my house.  Ok, I know I’m weird when I get excited thinking that my beets are growing just a few miles from the house.  (Then again, I am the lady who suggested that I make myself a dress out of Swiss Chard on a video!)  My local farms Radical Root and Sandhill Farms have been alternating weeks of having beets in the boxes–completely unintentional yet it has let me “pace myself” on my beet consumption.  I urge you to find your own CSA options.  My third farm is Tomato Mountain Farm in WI, they actually deliver to my door!  I love them just for that.

If you don’t have a CSA–then go to the grocery store.  They seem to always have beets available.  Even my Super Target has beets!  So really–there are no excuses for not buying beets.  

How to Cook Beets

So simple.  

• wash them
• cut the “tail” off so they will “stand up” on the baking sheet
• line them up on a foil lined baking sheet
• roast at 400 for a good 40 minutes.  I prefer my beets to be a little firm.
• I wrap the beets in the foil and store them in the fridge up to a week.  (they NEVER last that long.)
• I peel them as I need them.  Having beets prepped ahead of time is very helpful during the busy week.

How to Eat Beets

I eat them just warm out of the oven.  I have simple tastes.  But you could also:

• serve them cold with a vinaigrette (your can try my recipe.)
• mash them (like potatoes) add salt, pepper and Earth Balance vegan spread.
• cut into cubes with feta cheese sprinkled on top (I serve this side dish warm).  Vegan option:  I use some panko bread crumbs instead of the feta.
• add them to salads–it turns everything pink, so if that is a deal breaker . . . eat them on the side.
• juice them–this is done with raw beets and it is one of my most favorite, amazing ways to eat beets!  Beets, carrots, one apple and ginger–this is a wonderfully grounding juice.  When I feel scattered or just need to breathe–this juice does that.  It offers me quiet energy.

Share with me!

How do you eat beets?  Share your recipes in the comments!  Then tweet it out so we can share the love of beets!

[Tweet “I shared a beet recipe on Renee’s Kitchen! Come see it!”]

Be Blessed as you eat with L.O.V.E.!

Renee