Taste Life Blog

You just gotta love summer and the abundance of veggies I am receiving through my farm share.

A week ago I received golden beets which I had never eaten before. They were delicious. I just baked them and placed them on a bed of salad greens. Today I read Michele Obama is down on beets.

Here is my recipe for the first lady. Keep in mind you often need to try a food nine times before you totally love it.
Easy Beets for Michele Obama

Trim off the tops about ¼ inch or so above the root. Rinse. Wrap the beets in aluminum foil making certain you crimp the edges together to seal tightly.Bake at 400°F for about 1 to 2 hours until tender. Cool. Peel the beets. The skin pulls away very easily.

Slice into ¼” rounds. Place on your favorite greens and drizzle with your favorite balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper. This is great served with grilled chicken and a side of cantaloupe.

If Michele doesn’t like this I can always work on a beet milk shake she can take with her on her super busy days! And a purple drink maybe a new trend!

3 Reasons why Michele Obama should eat beets:

1. The rich crimson color called betacyanin is a powerful cancer fighting agent. Studies have shown they can decrease the risk of stomach and colon cancer. One study that caught my eye compared fruit and vegetable juices and the formation of nitrosamines which are cancer causing compounds that are produced in the stomach from nitrates. Beet juice inhibited the cells from mutating.

2. Several studies have demonstrated a drop in cholesterol (30% drop) and triglycerides (40% drop).

3. Inflammation increases our risk for heart disease and cancer. Studies have shown that people who consumed a diet with beets had 20% lower inflammatory markers.