Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 10 Aug, 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the garden
The WSU Master Gardeners suggest sowing extra beets and spinach for fall harvesting this month, ordering fall bulbs, and harvesting all your beautiful produce (or in my case, the pea; I'm a lousy gardener).
In the kitchen
I've been thinking about beet recipes for several weeks now; this week I finally did something about it.
Beet Chocolate Cake
1.75 cups flour
0.5 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1.5 cups pureed beets
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
1.5 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 oz. melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate
powdered sugar, for garnish
Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Combine sugar, eggs, and oil; beat with an electric mixer set at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add beets, chocolate, and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Pour into greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan on rack; cover and let stand overnight to improve flavor. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar if desired.
Source unknown.
Beet relish
4 c chopped cooked beets
4 c chopped cabbage
1 c chopped onion
1 c chopped sweet red peppers
2 T grated horseradish
1.5 c sugar
3 c vinegar
1 T salt
Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil for 10 min. Pack into hot sterilized jars and seal.
From: The home canning and preserving book / by Ann Seranne. Barnes & Noble Books, 1975.
Grilled whole beets with fresh ginger-orange sauce
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
4 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 c unpeeled, grated ginger
2 lb. large beets (at least tennis-ball size), scrubbed
Combine mayonnaise and orange juice in a non-reactive container. Gather the grated ginger into your hands and squeeze tightly to express as much of the juice as possible; add ginger juice to mayonnaise mixture and refrigerate. Preheat a gas grill with all the burners on high for 10-15 min. Trim tops and roots from beets. Turn one burner off and reduce the other(s) to medium. Place beets over the burner that is off, close the lid, and cook 20-40 min., turning occasionally, until tender and easily pierced with a sharp knife. Peel and slice the beets and top with sauce.
From: The gas grill gourmet : great grilled food for everyday meals and fantastic feasts / A. Cort Sinnes with John Puscheck. Harvard Common Press, c1996.
