Birthday Beets

This past Friday a couple of us celebrated a friend's birthday (30th?). How great is it when the one you're celebrating for also does most of the grocery shopping, the prep work and half of the cooking before you arrive? She even asked *me* what I'd be interested in for the meal. I wanted beets, knowing they are one of her favorites as well. All I had to do was bring the wine.

So she decided on Marinated Giant White Beans and Beets from the New York Times, along with Skordalia and, for dessert, Lemon Bars. "Giant white beans" are just big lima beans in disguise, but they taste better maybe because they're bigger, or maybe because they're served with something else that's actually tasty.

We decided that Skordalia should be known as "German or Greek pesto". Garlicky Goodness! It was perfect with the beans and the entire loaf of bread we wolfed down.

Repeat after me: "Beets are delicious." I sometimes have cravings for beets. I don't care what crap your mom served to you when you were a kid - go get some, scrub, chop and roast them. Roasted beets with salt, pepper and olive oil are some of the most tastiest things on the planet. Add some sweet potatoes, shallots and maybe some dill or rosemary or topped with feta and some balsamic vinegar. It was change you into a beet lover. Golden yellow beets are also good and don't stain, but lack the peaty punch I crave. Canned beets should be banned. And pickled beets - meh. Beets are, of course, uber-healthy to boot.


Who can resist an ooey-gooey lemon bar? So glad that Pam added the lemon zest, which the recipe did not call for. Happy Birthday!