A couple of times during Iron Chefettes I mentioned that beets are one of those vegetables I have a hard time feeling any love for. Last time, Rudee described an interesting sounding dish in the comments, and several others seconded her vote. What choice did I have but to try it? Especially since I had a few beets still cluttering up my veggie drawer. Nothing to lose, right?
The first step involved roasting the beets. I had done this with the last IC, and found plain roasted beets to be better than, say, boiled beets, but nowhere near approaching the nirvana of bacon. However, this had a few more steps, and they looked promising.
While the beets cooled, I took some quite nice balsamic vinegar and boiled it down to a syrup. The kitchen smelled lovely at this point.
Finally, I sliced the beets, layered them with a good-quality goat cheese, and swirled my balsamic vinegary goodness all over it. Pretty, isn't it? Even I, who have zero presentation skills, would not have been too embarrassed to serve this to guests.
But.
It still tasted like beets.
Beets with alternating bites of great goat cheese and lovely balsamic syrup.
But the beets dominated.
It would have been better to have goat cheese drizzled with syrup. And some nice bread.
And no beets.
Sorry, Rudee.
Oh, and blogless Don? Your suggestion of making beet vodka? Because that would use up even more beets--and taste like beets. So, um...no. Thanks. But no.
If this isn't horror enough for you, I give you: Teen 2, dressed for Halloween.
In case you're not clear on what he is, he's a douchebag.
Enjoy pondering that, and happy Halloween!
He doesn't look anything at all like my second husband......
I maintain, beets are inedible. Pretty maybe, but as food? Not so much.
Now bacon.......yum. If only it didn't come from adorable pigs.
Posted by: Carrie K | November 02, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Ah, well - you get points for trying. But I can't think of one dish using beets that doesn't taste of beets. Beet chocolate cake, maybe.
Nice douchebag costume!
Posted by: Don | November 02, 2009 at 09:16 AM
I know. I've tried them with goat cheese, too. It was better than beets without goat cheese, but still quite beety.
Posted by: Miss T | November 02, 2009 at 07:35 AM
My son would like your son.
Beets are OK at our house. Syrup and goat cheese would be pluses.
DH just bought a new cook book. Cooks' Country Cookbook. I think we'll be eating better son...
Posted by: PainterWoman | November 01, 2009 at 11:45 PM
hysterical........
Beets are bad for babies. Seriously ..
Posted by: kathy b | October 31, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Oh. I'm sorry I wasn't there to gobble up your cast aside beets. I'd have loved them! Are the beets gone then?
Posted by: rudee | October 30, 2009 at 11:35 PM
I can only hope my boys grow up to be like yours! Ha ha!
Yeah, beets...hmmmm...I'll leave it at that.
Posted by: bezzie | October 30, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Tell Teen #2 that he cracked me up.
Posted by: kmkat | October 30, 2009 at 03:44 PM