i love beets

People either love or hate beets. I love beets; they may be my favorite vegetable (or at least they are right up there with tomatoes, arugula, broccoli rabe, roasted red bell pepper....). My beet love affair has a clear point of origin, with my mother's pickled beets. I can put away an entire jar in one sitting if I don't pace myself. I think I lost track of beets for awhile, until I spied a bunch at the farmer's market a few years ago. I also discovered that, low and behold, they come in several different varieties. My most favorite are the pink and white-striped chiogga beets, which I only discovered last summer. There is really no need to make them complicated: simply peel, throw a little olive oil, salt and pepper on, and roast for ~1h at 425 (you can also roast, then peel if so desired, or boil, but I definitely think they are better roasted). When they come out, throw on a little more oil, splash on some vinegar or lemon juice, sprinkle with some freshly chopped herbs, and you're good to go (taste as you go, adding more or less of things until they are just right). If you want to get fancier, add some chopped shallot, nuts, and citrus zest. My favorite combo is walnut oil, orange zest, lemon juice and mint. An additional note - they are absolutely gorgeous!