Holiday Pickled Beets
BEETS:

1 lb beets

1 tbsp olive oil

2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary

1 garlic clove, smashed

salt, pepper to taste

aluminum foil

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut the tops off beets and wash beets thoroughly. Place in large mixing bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper, rosemary and garlic . Toss well and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. (If desired, beets can be wrapped in aluminum foil as well.) Place in oven on middle rack and roast for 1-1 ½ hours or until a skewer can be inserted into beets without resistance. Once beets are done, let cool. Remove skins with a pairing knife. Do not run under water. Cut beets into ¼ inch round slices.

Pickling liquid:

3 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 cup white wine vinegar

1 carrot, peeled and sliced

1 onion, sliced

1 ginger root peeled and sliced

5 black peppercorns

2 bay leaves

2 allspice berries

Combine water and vinegar and bring to a boil. Whisk in sugar and remaining ingredients. Remove from heat and let cool.

Pour the liquid solution and beets into a jar. Seal and store in the refrigerator.

Yields 1 quart.

Chef In The Classroom: Beets Day

Yesterday, we had our last Chef in the Classroom event for 2010. Mrs. Isler's second grade class chose Beets for December's Farmer's Choice vegetable. Chef Mark Gandara set up his mobile kitchen and the kids gathered around. Together, they decided to make pickled beets. There was a great deal of enthusiasm with lots of kids volunteering to measure and mix. They learned how to roast the beets with fresh rosemary and make a pickling liquid with fresh ginger, carrots, cinnamon, and vinegar (recipe coming soon).

Best of all, when it came to tasting it, more than half the class tried it, and many asked for seconds. The adults present were amazed to see kids eating beets. For some of the adults, it was their first time trying beets as well!

A big thank you goes out to Mark and Sunny Gandara for making our new Farm to School program at Haldane such a success. And for those planning holiday parties, they have some yummy prepared foods you can buy to save you some time in the kitchen.

And don't forget to tell your kids to buy lunch on Tuesday, December 21st and try Mrs. Isler's 2nd grade class "Holiday Pickled Beets" recipe. It really can't be beet!