Beets and Kale Recipe

A yummy-healthy beet dish, and easy, that I created using a salad recipe from the Cooking Channel but used kale instead! Beets are a new like for me. I've never had a taste for them until several months ago. It's worth experimenting. I LOVE them!

One bunch of kale greens (buy organic since they have no protective skins)
3-4 small to medium and firm beets, red or golden
Blue cheese (if you do not like blue, try goat cheese)
Fresh ground black pepper
1/4 c balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp regular or Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp (plus a dash) of salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 cup olive oil, preferably extra virgin
walnuts or almonds (optional)

Cut ends off of beets and place in foil and seal. Slit top and bake at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes until tender to the fork.

While roasting beets, make your vinaigrette by whisking balsamic vinegar, mustard, salt, and sugar. Once mixed, slowly whisk in olive oil until the mixture is emulsified. Set aside.

Once beets are cooked, remove from the oven and the foil. Using a hot mitt, take the beets and remove skins using a knife or heavy paper towel. Slice beets in half and then cut into slices. Place into a shallow dish and drizzle half of the vinaigrette over them and let them soak while you prepare the kale. This helps them to absorb the flavors of the vinaigrette while they are warm and it gives them a tangy/sweet flavor!

Remove kale from stalks and break into pieces. Place all of kale into about a 1/4 cup of boiling water; add dash of salt. Stir until wilted and tender. Remove from heat. Spoon the kale onto a serving plate, top with beets and blue cheese, drizzle as much of the vinaigrette over the dish, add pepper and sprinkle of nuts, then serve. YUM!! 

Healthy?  Beets are amazing, when part of your regular diet!
Full of nutritious compounds, especially the betalains (or pigment), beets protect against cancer and even prevent birth defects due to their bulk of B vitamins/folate. Beets are full of very strong antioxidants which fight free radicals. Free radicals are basically corrupt molecules that travel around our bodies and lack certain electrons, and they search out the cells in our bodies to steal electrons from. That damage is a contributor to cancer, aging, cardiovascular issues and more. Researchers have studied the amazing benefits of these root vegetables and found that they have such a mix of antioxidants, especially two different carotenoids (whfood).  For a whopping dose of health benefits of beets, visit The Worlds Healthiest Foods.