Veggie Month: Beet Greens

I can't wait for the emails on this post.

When KK and I were at the story yesterday, I picked up a bunch of beets with stems nearly as long as my arm. (And my arms aren't too stubs.) The beet greens were falling out of my basket, and I said something to KK along the lines of, "I wonder if you can eat the greens. I feel guilty throwing so much out."

When I got home, I noticed a tag on the beets with cooking directions. Directions for cooking the beets and the greens. So that's what I did today. Removed the stems and chopping the greens, then sautéed them in a little butter and water.

The results were fantastic. It tastes just like spinach, spinach that comes free with a bunch of beets.

Veggie Month! Beets & Snap Peas

Of course, neighbors are good for a cup of sugar. Mine also happen to be good for dinner parties, walks with our dogs, random lunches, and neighborhood gossip.

And this month, the female half of their household will also be good for a push to eat more (and strange!) vegetables. During the month of February, KK and I will be eating a different vegetable every day. I'll be posting my choices here, and you can follow KK at No Regrets 2010.

Long-time readers of Stray Carrier Pigeon will remember KK as the same neighbor who arranged for us to swing on an eccentric's trapeze as a "No Regrets" outing.

Onto the accountability. Yesterday, February 1, I ate beets. Which is really difficult for me, I know. (I wanted to ease into the challenge.)

Today, I snacked on sugar snap peas, after my leftover Mimi's sandwich (I love pesto!) but before a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. ... My veggie was sandwiched between two sandwiches. Odd. I need to get out more. And be more adventurous with my meals.

But back to this post's first line. After walking our dogs tonight, I gave KK some extra ginger and half a sweet onion to complete a recipe for her vegetable: swiss chard. Lending a cup of sugar is so 1960's.

This Title Will Be Free of a "Beet the Jets" Pun

I planted them in July. And they grew. And grew into the little red nubs that will stain your fingers better than Easter egg dye. Today seemed like as good a day as any to pluck them out and turn them into a salad. Just in time for a meal before the Chargers cream the Jets.

(The garden. And the help.)

(The haul.)

(Lettuce, beets, walnuts, goat cheese, and croutons. Finished with a balsamic vinaigrette.)

Growth Spurt

The seed packet said these beets would be ready for harvest in 58 days. 77 days in, they are half-inch nubs. I'm hoping they'll hit their teenage growth spurt--although without the awkward voice and bad skin--soon.

This season's to-date fig count: 43.

19 Days

Thanks to my mother-in-law, the beets continued to grow while I was away. Almost three weeks in, there are several more seedlings.

Beetlings

These little beet seedlings popped out today--blurry-eyed but ready to take on the San Diego enclave of this harsh world we live in.