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Can’t Beat, Roasted Beets

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.

roasted beets

 

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!roasting 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

 

Five Fun Food Facts on Friday #2 (I couldn’t stop laughing at #5)

Welcome to the second F5!  This week I came across some very interesting food videos, recipes, information . . . and today I’m sharing it with you.  Enjoy the list and in the comments below I would really like to know which was most helpful, inspiring, or just filled you with joy.  

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#1  Awesome Info graphic 

This printable infographic by Kris Carr is awesome.  We eat tons of these.  I buy mostly  canned–but with this cheat sheet I will make a greater effort to by them dried.  Can you guess what I’m talking about?

#2 Do you know why you need magnesium?  

MindBodyGreen is one of my favorite go-to websites for concise information like this article on  magnesium.

#3 My workout buddy!

Ok, so Rich Roll doesn’t really know that he is my workout buddy.  What he has done is create awesome podcasts about plant-based foods, nutrition, exercise, and how to change the world by how you live your life. Which is exactly what I want to do.   I’ve been working out since the beginning of January 2014 and I’ve lost 7  pounds!  Yeah for me!  I have a long way to go but I have a plan–4 days a week for 60 minutes on the elliptical (I’ve had to work up to this).  My workout burns over 700 calories and gives me a huge energy boost.  Thanks Rich my workouts enjoyable!  

Check out his podcast here.

#4 Do you eat beets?

No?  I love beets and think everyone should too!  Sorry, the 6-year-old with uncontrollable excitement that lives with me just came bursting out!  Beets are a food I am CRAZY excited about.  I love growing beet greens for the turtles.  I think they are awesome roasted.  I juice them twice a week with lemon, apple, and ginger–amazingly good and the color is phenomenal.  (See what I mean–I’m a little nutty when it comes to beets.)  Here is a post by my friend Kristy–she is an amazing cook, she is super fun and always makes me smile, and shares my love of beets and gnocchi.  

Come and see what she has created here.

#5 Just what is natural?

This is a hilarious “mockumentary” on what is NATURAL!  

What was your favorite?  Leave a number 1-5 in the comments!  

OPTION #2:  Use the bar on the side to Like, G+, Tweet or Pin!

Enjoy the weekend!

Be Blessed.