Beets

Glorious beets! They turn a whole meal pink. I reproduced the Russian beet salad reasonably well using canned beets, but need fresh to get it absolutely right. The sauteed beets and carrots were wonderful over pasta.

Sautéed Beets and Carrots (quick side dish)

Beets, carrots, and onion are all delicious when cooked with brown sugar and butter. Makes 2 to 4 servings. This makes a complete meal when served over buttered pasta.

2 or 3 fresh beets, peeled and diced, or one drained and chopped can of beets
2 or 3 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
1 onion, peeled and chopped small
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
(optional) minced or dried garlic to taste

Melt the butter in a sauce pan; add the onion, and sauté for a few minutes. Add the beets, if you are using fresh, and sauté a few minutes more. (If you use canned, add the beets at the end, after the carrots have softened.) Add the carrots and brown sugar, and continue to sauté until the carrots and beets are softened. Add salt, pepper, and the optional garlic.

Simple Buttered Pasta (quick meal)

This dish is simple to make, and goes well topped with sautéed vegetables of any sort.

½ pound of uncooked pasta of any sort

2 tbsp butter or olive oil

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

(optional) Italian spices

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, and return it to the hot pot. Add about a tablespoon of butter for each ¼ pound of pasta, and stir it until it melts; or use olive oil, or use some combination of the two. Then stir in the grated cheese. Add salt, pepper, and optional spices. Serve with sautéed vegetables, such as spinach or beets.



Russian Beet Salad (quick side dish)

This slaw is a glorious hot pink color, and surprisingly sweet, given that it contains garlic.

1 can of beets, or about 1 ½ cups cooked fresh beets, cut small
½ cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced, or ½ tsp dried garlic
¼ cup chopped or smashed walnuts
Salt and pepper to taste
(optional) raisins, or chopped prunes
(optional) 1 tsp brown or white sugar, or honey

If using fresh beets, peel, boil, and cool first. Then chop them into fine bits, or grate them using the largest holes of a cheese grater. Combine all of the ingredients, and serve!