We'd be doing a lot better down here if we could get some of your rain! I got .2" yesterday. First rain in 58 days...record-breaking drought, even in Houston!
How do you grow BEETS?
Linda, sure seems like rain in the U.S. is either feast or famine right now, doesn't it? I'm happy with what I have though, especially since we've had our share of droughts in the past decade or two.
How'd your beets turn out anyway? Didja end up making any special dish w/them? Your Aunt's recipe maybe?
Shoe (who could be eating beets this weekend but back injury keeps me from bending over; at least that'll let them get bigger though, eh?)
Shoe,
I have to go home and finish boiling what I started Wednesday! Either those beets are too old, or my fire doesn't get hot enough! Might need a blow torch, or sit outside in the sun for about 15 minutes. That oughta do it!
^^_^^ (almost time to go HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEE!!!!!)
Shoe, thanks for the tips about baking beets. I'm all for holding nutrients in food as much as possible.
I'll be pulling more beets tomorrow and will try your baking method.
I must've been hallucinating that night cause when I pulled my beets to continue boiling them they were well cooked. They were big!
So Shoe and Gymgirl, are you saying that my steaming the beets leaches out nutrients? Last night I roasted them with garden onions and garden carrots tossed in evoo with a touch of salt and some pepper. Very yummy. The beets were small ones that did not have room to grow due to crowding in the bed. I left a little of the stalk on and did not peel them, the peel slipped off easily with a fork as I was consuming this super flavorful treat. Beet haters just do not know what they are missing!
Beets are a big hit at farmers market. We sell tons of them. We pick up to 2" diameter, then bunch them with all the same size in a bunch.
It will be mid June before ours are ready.
MaryMcP,
I only learned how to cook beets last fall from my infamous Aunt Beatrix (see the recipes forum under "cast iron cooking" thread). I'm waaaaaaaay open to new beet recipes.
Bring 'em on!
Linda
Oh m'gosh, "I only learned how to cook beets last fall from my infamous Aunt Beatrix".... "infamous"? I don't think she was that bad a cook from what I've seen of the recipe you posted above, Linda. And congrats on getting those beets cooked. Hope you enjoyed them.
MaryMcP, steaming won't leach out the nutrients as much as boiling does. Boiling tends to pull the color and nutrition out, most likely because it pulls the liquid from the beets. Steaming is a bit different, especially your smaller beets since they'll cook in less time. Baking will heat/cook the beet without removing any "beet liquid" so it stays intact. And your beets, onions and carrots sound great to me!
Bernie, I bet ya'll grow great beets up your way. Doesn't it stay fairly cool up there most of the year? Even in your "hot" months do the nights cool back down?
Shoe, happy it's been a good growing season so far.
Uber, Aunt Beatrix is 95, and is still an EXCELLENT cook!
Her "infamy" has to do with all the horrible things she did to my seasoned cast iron skillets when she came for a two-week visit, and stayed for 18 months!
I had to hide my best pieces. I Let her loose with a set of cast iron only SHE could destroy!
Linda
It can be mighty hot but don't last to long at one time. Usually 2 or 3 days of hot weather then a thunderstorm to freshen things up.
August can get dry & hot.
Beets are part of the reason we are market growers.
Fall of 1986 we had a big surplus of eggs. A friend told me about Mankato Farmers Market. He didn't know where it was. So we loaded up our eggs on a Saturday morning & headed out. We also took along a banana box of beets that were about 6" across. (That's the size my mother always used for pickles.)
The rest is history, now in our 26th year!
Shoe, you decided on KY RU yet ?
Bernie
Oh Linda, I hope you were able to save those cast iron pots! And very smart of you to give Aunt Beatrix her own set. My Grandfather did similar for my Grandmother, giving her her very own little tool box with hand tools in it for under her kitchen counter. Some folks think it was a great gift, others realize it was to keep her from "borrowing" his tools and not putting them back! *grin (My wife has her own tool box too; gee, I wonder why I gave them to her?) :>)
Bernie, I had an idea ya'll had excellent beet weather up there. And those big ones are ones I'd look for to pickle as well. Most folks here pull them from marble size (with greens) up to 3 or 4". I actually have a decent row of beets this year (very rare for clay soil) so will be picking them at all sizes, hopefully having some for baseball size near the end of harvest.
As for KY RU, too soon to tell. Last year was a terrible year here weather wise and financially. I hope this year is better but still playing it by ear. After quite a few years now of no "vacation" I think I'm due one so wish me luck!
Shoe
Well, I had every intention of baking the beets I pulled yesterday, but then realized I didn't have a baking dish large enough! So, I ended up boiling them - they filled my eleven quart stock pot.
I'll have to put a large baking dish on my shopping list.
Wow, sounds like your better get more than one, Honeybee!
I use anything I can find, baking dishes, cookie sheets (with the rim), casserole dishes, etc.
Sounds like you have some good eatin' coming up!
Shoe
Shoe, I have lots of smaller baking dishes, but none with covers that were deep enough. (I have an aversion to using aluminum wrap.) All my cooking pots, baking sheets, etc., are either glass, stainless steel, or cast iron.
Honeybee, be sure to check Goodwill etc for your baking pan needs. I find lots of good stuff there.
Shoe, when you try that recipe, add a turnip or two. I didn't have any or they would have gone in too. Thanks for the info re: steaming vs boiling.
And, the longer they marinate, the better they get!
Thought I would give you beet lovers something to drool over.
Beets are the front rows, back are carrots.
Drooling here, Bernie. And SO jealous of your garden space.
Looking mighty fine to me!
Shoe
Here's what they look like at the market.
Wow, haven't gotten beets around here for a dollar bunch in years. Great bargain there.
I'll be baking and pickling beets here this weekend (I hope).
Sure are purty beets, Bernie.
Shoe
We'll change to $2 when they get a bit bigger. Not many in a bunch.
Around here, Beets are priced at $1.00 EACH! Sometimes, there are four in a bunch for $2.99. Which is why I decided to grow my own.