Just Beet It!

Remember my canned beets?  Blog Post #9 describes where I got this recipe and how to make it.  I opened a jar a few days ago because I thought it was about time I did something with them.  I'm giving one jar away to Grandma Irma, she's curious.  And that leaves me with just two jars.  These. Are. Awesome.  I believe that with this recipe, I have cured most of my issues with mixing sweet and savory.  Oh, wow, these are good!  Since I only have two jars, I didn't want to make another soup (although all I would've had to do is puree the two jars and heat it up, instant, fantastic soup!) because it would've used them all up, I wanted to try a few different things.  The first thing I did was just eat a couple slices.  Yum.  The second thing I did was mash a bunch up with a boiled egg (I got home late and was starving).  It tasted amazing but looked extremely unappetizing.  Hot pink eggs?  Very weird.  The third thing I did was this:

I sliced a boiled egg...laid it out on a plate in a line, then placed beet slices on top and sprinkled with Feta cheese.  Absolutely delicious.  (I boil a dozen eggs at a time so when I come home and I'm really hungry and I don't want to eat something really horrible for me I eat a boiled egg).  I read that potato salad with beets is delicious.  I bet it is.  But hot pink potato salad is just too strange to eat, so...this is the next best thing!  Enjoy!  xo, AB

And the Beet Goes On...

Turns out that using all of the fruits and vegetables in my CSA Box was not difficult.  Except...my beets almost went bad.  I only got 4 tiny (yet tasty) beets, and all of the recipes I found for beets were for 2 pounds or more.  So, I cheated and bought a few more at my local grocery store to complete a recipe to can some beets.  I further cheated in that the recipe was an insert in my CSA Box.  While I've made bunches of jam before, I'd never canned fruits or vegetables on my own, and I didn't want to mess it up.

Speaking of messes, beets are a hot mess, literally.  My fingers are still purple.  But look how beautiful they look - I can't wait to have these canned beets for soup and other yummy appetizers later this Fall!



Beet Still, My Heart

You'll notice that the jars are full of beet slices only.  Know that the stalks are edible, too, and are quite tasty.  Earlier this week, I chopped Swiss chard (including the stalks) and sauteed it with garlic, lemon zest and juice from one lemon, and a bit of salt.  Tossed with pasta - delicious!  This was not my idea, my little brother said his wife makes it this way sometimes.  I tried this dish again, but used the beet stalks and leaves with some remaining Swiss chard, and tossed in chopped heirloom tomatoes.  This made quite a bit of food; I fed two of my friends and had leftovers!

Sautee Swiss chard and/or beet stalks with garlic first...



...then add greens, lemon zest & juice, tomatoes...toss with cooked pasta and serve immediately.  Yummy!