Just beet it

Look at that beet. Doesn't it look good? Don't you just want to reach through your computer, take the root vegetable and eat it? Come on, you know you do.

And I'd appreciate it, too, because as much as I want to like beets, I'm not so sure I do.

After receiving a plethora of beets two weeks ago, courtesy of my CSA, I popped a dozen or so in a baking dish and roasted them per directions I found on the internet. I could smell them baking, and I couldn't wait to taste them. As soon as they were ready to handle, I easily peeled off the skin, cut a wedge and ate it.

"Good," I thought. "Sort of like a carrot ... except not."

I cut the beets into slices, portioned them in plastic storage bags and froze them. Any time I wanted a beet, I could reach in the freezer and defrost some.

Yesterday was that time. I grabbed some beets, added some orange slices (ala "5-ingredient Fix") and some goat cheese (as recommended by a co-worker). I put it in a plastic container and took it to work for lunch. I was so excited. Beets! Oranges! Goat cheese!

Too bad that excitement didn't last long. The first few bites went down OK and then I felt like I was eating, well, dirt. Makes sense, too, as beets grow in the ground. Then again, sweet potatoes grow in the ground and I lurve sweet potatoes. Anyway, I tried to eat just the oranges and the goat cheese - things I really do love - but I had had enough. I threw a good half of the salad away and went to the vending machine for some popcorn.

(Disclaimer: I did have more for lunch than half a salad and popcorn.)

I'm still holding out hope that I can at least like beets in small portions and might try them with roasted potatoes, onions and some butter because butter, well, makes everything better.

White hot

There was a sweetness that surprised me. A creamy, delicate texture that I wasn't expecting. A feeling I definitely wasn't used to. A feeling that I might actually like eggplant.


Mark and I received a white eggplant as part of our CSA basket this week, and I was a little put off. I've eaten eggplant twice in my life and both times I've found it to be bitter and a chore to eat. But we paid for this share and darn it, I was going to eat it!

We interrupt this blog for an important public service announcement: Mark only eats broccoli, corn and the occasional cooked carrot. All "weird" vegetables are thereby relegated to Kimberly's plate.

I sliced up the eggplant, seasoned it with salt pepper and the slightest drizzle of olive oil and roasted it at 400 degrees for, uh, 40 minutes or so until I was finished eating dinner. It had a nice golden edge and the plentiful seeds were toasty looking. I snagged a piece right out of the oven and though it was hot, it was good.

I also tried it today with a balsamic vinaigrette, which totally ruined the flavor. I definitely think it would be good in a pasta or on a pizza as one of you gals suggested last night. Funny, I've been craving pizza and was planning on having a slice (or two ... or three) this weekend.

Mmmm ... pizza.

You say potato, I say uh-oh

I had dreams of an abundance of fresh, juicy tomatoes, zucchini and lettuces when I signed up for a CSA back in March. We opted for the half-year plan, which meant we would get deliveries from the end of July through September. Forty dollars was going to buy me eight weeks worth of organic, off-the-farm summer meals.

I was so excited to open our first bag of goodies last night. It was almost like Christmas.


The first thing I pulled out of the bag was a good pound or two of fresh green beans. Score! These were a definite treat when I was growing up, and I remember many a summer Saturday afternoon with my mom spent breaking off the ends of the beans and getting them ready to cook. Back then, we ate green beans with plenty of butter and salt. This bag from the CSA will be steamed with some garlic and lemon juice flavored, salted while hot and eaten as a snack - hot or cold.

I also found two bags of baby potatoes among the CSA goods. TWO bags. Don't get me wrong, I like potatoes but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with two bags of potatoes.

This dress is really unflattering. Note to self: Don't wear it again ...
or at least stand like this while wearing it.

Given that there are just two of us in the household, Mark and I could just take a bag and do what we'd like with 'em. I could also make copious amounts of mashed potatoes and pretend that I just had my wisdom teeth pulled. I could also make a mean breakfast of hash browns and hash brown casserole and potato pancakes. I could make potato salad and invite the entire neighborhood over for a barbecue.

Any of those work for you?

I know these potatoes will last a bit but I need to use 'em. Get my money's worth. So I'm thinking of making a Tortilla Espanola - a Spanish omelet with potatoes and onions layered throughout. I'll have to figure out how to cut the oil (some recipes call for at least a 1/4 cup).

Or ... you can share your favorite thing to do with potatoes. Just sayin'.