New Year's Resolution 2010 #1 - DONE!

Yes, you read that right.  I am referring to one of my first blog posts when I listed six New Year's Resolutions I was making.  The first one was as follows:

1) I will make a dish with beets. I apologize for this rather rude revealing, but beets were almost guaranteed to make me gag as a child, and so I have resolutely avoided them as an adult. I did have them in a dish in Colombia where they were combined with tomatoes - they weren't bad, but they still tasted like dirt to me. I wish I loved them because I know they are good for me. So, my goal is to try to cook them myself and I am very open to enjoying them. I have found that my personal pleasure in cooking increases my appreciation for the dish itself. I have eaten meals at my table quite worthy of 5 stars - so I think my missing beet ingredient might just be - Me.

Well, last weekend I purchased two different kinds of beets at my local farmer's market.  Those promises have long lingered in my memory; time has been passing but they have continued to follow me with the clasp of a pledge made in confidence.  I know, you don't care or probably even know what I said back in January 2010.  But I do, and it binds me.

So, I figured I should start with the best and something that was homegrown usually fits that bill. Borrowing from a couple of different websites, I leaned primarily upon a rather basic recipe from the ultra-reliable Simply Recipes.  I only had a smidge of foil, so I wrapped up my beets in parchment paper and that worked fabulously.  I was so pleased; the meal I served was 100% organic.  A tender beef roast with bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and celery in the crockpot.  Sweet potatoes roasted in the oven with coconut oil and Emeril's Essence (ok, not organic there.)  A cold garlicky green bean and sliced potato salad, steamed beforehand and then put in the fridge to chill.  And my beets in a balsamic reduction glaze.  It turns out I was right.

They were the best beets I've ever had in my life.  

We've all agreed that we could eat beets once a week during the summer.  A Triumph my dear, a Triumph!

I am sharing this with Simple Lives Thursday, We Are That Family, and Far Above Rubies.