Thursday, February 26, 2009

Chocolate and Beets

Strange combo, I know. Still nothing happening yet. So this will be a boring post.

I'm enjoying the yummy chocolate that Angrycanrn sent me for my transfer. Chocolate makes sweet babies, right? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

About beets, lately I've been really into them, but I'd never cooked them myself. There are a couple of gourmet takeout places near my office that make good beet salads, but they're expensive. I knew in theory that they were easy to cook, so I picked up a couple of bunches on my way home tonight. Trimmed them, rinsed and dried them, then wrapped them in tin foil and roasted them until tender. Tossed some with some salad dressing I had in the fridge, but left most of them unseasoned for later. They were yummy, but I need some good seasoning/dressing suggestions. Please help!

6dp2dt

8 comments:

The Steadfast Warrior said...

Try butter, salt and pepper. Simple but oh so good. Or try some fresh or dried herbs like thyme or rosemary. A squeeze of lemon can be good too. Brightens them up.

Kristin said...

I've never cooked beets myself but I did a google search on beet salad and there are some yummy recipes there.

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

I have gotten into cooking my own beets for salad lately. I also prefer to roast them in foil rather than boiling, which is supposed to take out some of the nutrients. FYI my cookbook says not to trim off the bottom root and to leave at least an inch of the leaves when you trim those off, so that the skin stays more intact and thus keeps the nutrients in.

Step 1 with beets: Change into non-fancy clothes!!! I actually only seem to get beet juice stains on nice clothes, never on grungy clothes. Some sort of Murphy's Law of Beets.

I prefer to eat them with the rest of my salad in salad dressing (I prefer a locally-made miso ginger dressing), but here are a couple of other suggestions. They always seem to involve vinegar.

Harvard Beets: Boil. Skin and dice. Cook sugar, red wine vinegar, OJ, corn starch, butter, and zest of 2 oranges. Add sauce to beets.

Baked Beets: Roast. Once cool, melt butter in a skillet, add beets and toss. Sprinkle with raspberry vinegar, orange zest, caraway seeds, S&P, cook until heated through. Add chives.

If you want exact quantities of either, let me know.

Our mutual friend's mom supposedly makes great beet salad, though I haven't had it (but she's generally a good cook). I'll see if I can get the recipe for you.

battynurse said...

No clue about the beets. I've only eaten them (willingly) pickled which is how I LOVE them.

Anonymous said...

Sorry I have no "beet-lore" but I'm thinking of you during the 2ww!

Jess said...

I don't know how to make beets, but I love them. Thinking of you during the tww and hoping for great success!!

Anonymous said...

been thinking of you!!!
beaming mucho good vibes your way and just hoping like a mofo that beets and chocolate are the very thing to seal the deal. You are such an amazing friend to so many of us- I want the Universe to hook you up!!
xoxoxo

decemberbaby said...

Can't help with the beets, but chocolate is definitely a good thing... how many days til poas?