Beautiful Beets

It was a few weeks back that I purchased my first bundle of fresh beets. I was standing at a favorite Farmers Market booth buying lovely lettuce, when the rows of beets caught my eye. I walked over to take a peek and the gal assisting me pointed out her favorite and shared with me her personal preferred way to enjoy them. Between her passion and the amazing color I was sold. I had never tried to cook beets, and was previously prone to pulling the round, cookie-cutter pieces from a restaurant's house salad. Ashamed of my former beet-plucking self, I decided to give this little jewel of a vegetable a whirl.

I tried the suggested method of halving and steaming, then peeling once cool. I sliced into chucks then topped with a little S+P and parmesan cheese (my Market friend recommended goat's cheese, but I did not have that on hand, and was so excited to try the beets, I just couldn't wait for all the ingredients to fall into place). Was it a success? Well, for my palate, not exactly. The taste was very earthy and I think that with a lack of accompanying flavors, I was a little overloaded with the beetiness. The color, though! Wow! Such an amazing deep reddish-purple hue. I truly want to enjoy beets, figuring that something so aesthetically pleasurable must be equally as tasty given the right preparation. Thus, I am not deterred! The search is on for some great beet recipes. A good friend told me she loves beets and developed a good beet risotto... need to give that a try! Below I have compiled a few more recipes that I would like to attempt as well. If you try any of these or have a favorite of your own, please share!

Roasted Beet and Blood Orange Salad with Spicy Greens

Crunchy Raw Beetroot Salad with Feta and Pear

Beet Chocolate Cupcakes

Beet Cake

Roasted Beet-Tofu Burgers

ABC Juice (Apple, Beetroot, Carrot)

Sweet Potato and Beet Chips with Garlic Rosemary Salt (I couldn't help myself)

"And how do you take your coffee?"

"Whole bean, shade grown, organic, fair trade. Course ground, then a long 4 minute soak followed by a firm, steady press separating the grounds from the lovely full flavored brew complete with oils and the delicate grit." This is of course the meditative process of brewing in a French Press, the only way to enjoy a sensational cup of joe.

I started out life as a non-coffee drinker, repulsed by its upfront bitterness and offended by its lingering affect on one's breath. I even made it through 4 years of college and 5 years as a Starbucks employee without touching the stuff (fo-fo frappuccino's and sugar-induced-coma mocha's topped with whipping cream don't count). It wasn't until after I was married and began the daily routine of life that I found this once unappealing morning "habit" and absolute treat and pleasurable escape. But it was not simply the allure of coffee, it was the masterfully crafted cup of perfect harmony between bean, brew, water, and timing that really highlighted coffee's true potential. When the elements align, magic happens and it is the perfect welcome to a new day.

My ideal cup of coffee would be a lazy Saturday morning in a French café with my sweetheart enjoying the perfect cappuccino and savoring a fresh, buttery, flaky croissant.

What is your ideal cup of coffee?