This week's Blogger Secret Ingredient (BSI) was
beets, one of my favorites! Ok, I don't really have a fruit or a vegetable (
besides raw tomatoes and all fungus) that
isn't my favorite, but I digress...
Then I realized that I don't really have a recipe for beets. I just eat them. I searched and searched online and wasn't really finding anything except a lot of people that hate beets.
I came to the conclusion that beets, for whatever reason, are kind of an outdated food of yesteryear. Something that
used to be eaten a lot more often than they are
now.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkLUj_AePlmlZdTBkWXWGT6uuZmzx6Lge0Tz9STPcj2MuIFcTc46oncZIVmS5WSv9yEu-vC2YA45ZSDp_kHq1PdDFeFpU73lJeoD186JJp6yLlWslK_CATBDKN6PnKEaoHHh6L078GNBq/s400/IMG_6519.JPG)
Which, lucky for me, kind of worked out since I have an odd obsession with
old cookbooks. You know, those weird ones from the 1950s with jello molds or church recipe collections with bindings hand sewn with yarn - they are my weakness in thrift stores. I struck gold in this little baby that is older than my boyfriend (and he's
old!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfll02ztRt3Tgc2I8nwZ-0btl9T9D3WJo4Y_Q0jjzcg67GK5E0ARRmwZ0zRADFP-eDb_L_OnYRS_odd76xhUnvs3OzXqgtXJuofMNPAnhNL_MJO16QRdQNX1MDErI5VcGlR5pVMRi3W10/s400/IMG_6520.JPG)
It has a section for each vegetable and tells a little about how to select, prepare, cook, and serve them. Then a few pages follow with recipes devoted to that veggie. I made my selection and went to town!
1 can whole beets
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp sliced green onion (I subbed normal onion)
1 Tbsp vinegar (I used white)
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
dash cayenne, optional
In a small saucepan combine sour cream, milk, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt, and cayenne if using. Heat through over low heat, but do not boil.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKJopsJdtRasInPQkZe3bURTdFkcmRJEDeVYw8f0yXSQVKWYxeATDz3XVE4b5xAopMacIRm6LZIQ-ha71Jzx8h8U2dz1-3gKFCL7c8QxIV7y1B6OJWcVYpRMfLGeLRfoze7yQO7YAbQe0/s400/IMG_6525_resize.jpg)
Halve rinsed beets and add to the mixture. (*Note: You could easily use fresh beets that you would prepare by boiling and skinning. However, fresh beets were
$5.29 for a bunch of 3 or 4 so I went the canned route.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cZL39Cjb9FkYM_BC68i84qBdEXZ-HEm4Wq3iupw5gxfQgPNniI95RjSDsOikvDUnbbBqsrtDgdJkm_0EByoVDbOl4-dV-qnM78-ycHzU1vFiCjczsGI0fsz0tlim7udr_v7Y4lkcR9Qj/s400/IMG_6528.JPG)
Stir until incorporated and let cook a few minutes until the beets are warmed through.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03mWBHs4IUsNQOXlGHx10dF25_2vO__j6nvnNHEMU78t8R2YKmnLlPmVcwAhb__1wBgAd3_r63Tr_plSlWOiIwQxR3SXWzz6bfNV1jPmjOLjz-ILSXb37j1m44D1CwVHeVYt9ooewlsg_/s400/IMG_6533.JPG)
Serve immediately. (Johnny said it looked like we were having beets with Pepto Bismal and I had to agree.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGqup2TAiBjcy2JY2ZABvdEzaDxBie8_QCaL1MLIDwLoCd2-Y0aFJ5Qt3vFYJ3uZlOvjllDtE-dBIXde5PKQJiM_h5_elGumqKAM2q0XQXt-jm2Nze0-tF3QICoujg788CClRq9HSZ76f/s400/IMG_6537_resize.jpg)
It was also cool with each forkful you took, the beet would "bleed" its true red more.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn_DDu9uCytKXTTfd2PwvV0KHBdXFbRSCZeycKmkSIghKyonqrsN-QofHzu7ySoeBz97bL5JE4dUAQZt3H1wA7qAOLPMM6AtQI3bGrz0tyUeDTt85S9eFnyJ9iDyvaSed4u88UyQoj0ZM/s400/IMG_6536.JPG)
Overall I think this was a nice side dish to dinner. You could still very clearly taste the earthy beets, and the sauce acted like a dressing. It was a tad tangy and creamy which was a nice compliment to the beets. I'll still love them plain, but it's cool to have another way to eat them in the future!
6 comments:
Yummy-I love beets and old cookbooks? THE BEST!!! good luck
I too love beets (called beetroot her in Australia) and I found this lovely recipe for them
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/6151/beetroot+risotto+with+goats+cheese+walnuts+vegetarian
Has a lovely modern twist to it really.
Another reason I like you so much - our love of old cookbooks! :D
Ha - I had to laugh at J's comment - there really is no way to make beets look pretty!
Wow, that looks good. And I love that you dug up an old cookbook.
I've tried pickled beets and eggs before. They were ok.
But mostly, beets make me wanna puke...Sorry! >.<
I love beets, too! Even if they are coated in Pepto Bismol :) We don't have them too often, because Peter hates beets (why oh why??), so I'll have to save this recipe for when he's not around - tee hee!
Oh, and I love old stuff at garage sales - luckily I don't go to too many or else I'd be swamped with stuff!
It sounds like the mixed flavors and textures of the beets vs sauce was a really nice compliment. Tasty!
~Aubree Cherie
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