Beets

It is fairly frequent I hear about someone who hates beets. I have grown up thinking beets are one of the most delightful vegetables so it is hard for me to understand!! <p> One of our favorites sounds really simple and people wrinkle up their nose, but they taste different this way!
Peel your raw beets, grate on the cheese grater and then melt some butter in a  skillet. Fry on all sides until tender. These are so yummy you will find yourself picking them out of the pan!
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Another good way that most people do not know at all, is in this wonderful Chocolate cake. I have used this for birthday cakes as well. It has alot of oil in it, but it makes a very high, fluffy, moist cake. I have cut the oil down in the past and added more beets.  I use cooked beets and I also cut the sugar down!
RED BEET CAKE

1-1/2 c. sugar
5 eggs
1-1/2 c. oil
2-1/4 c. canned or fresh red beets, grated
1/2 c. cocoa
2-1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. flour
dash salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2-1/4 tsp. baking soda
Cream sugar and eggs.  Add oil, beets, and cocoa.  Mix in flour, salt, vanilla, and baking
soda.  Pour into a 9×13" pan and bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until
done.
NOTES:
A very good dark chocolate cake.  This is very moist.
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Then of course, nothing would be complete in mentioning beets if you did not have some Russian recipes. Borcht is a Russian vegetable soup, which I have not made in forever. It has a grated beet in it….. and has a flavor like no other if you follow the directions to the letter.

RUSSIAN BORSCHT
Start with a pot according to the amount you want to make.
I usually make about 2 gallons so I’ll tell you that size.  You can boil a bone to get broth
or add cooked meat and bouillon or you can make it meatless. Fill pan 1/3 full of cubed
potatoes (about 1-1/2" cubes) and fill with water or broth.  Add salt to taste.  Simmer
until potatoes are soft; add 1/2 head cabbage very finely sliced. Meanwhile in a frying
pan brown 1 diced onion
in 1 Tbsp. oil, add 1 grated carrot when onion is yellow, and fry a little.  Add 1 grated
fresh beet or about 5 small canned beets grated. Fry a while. Add 1 small (8 oz.) can
tomato sauce and 1-2 cans water. Simmer about 5 minutes.  Add to large pot. Simmer
about 15 minutes. Add a bay leaf and 2 tsp. dillweed.
Serve with sour cream on top.
NOTES:
Some people also put a little rinsed sauerkraut in instead of some of the cabbage.

<p> Another one is a salad that I like alot. It is sort of a twist on potato salad…
Cooked beets, peeled and cubed about 1 c.
Cooked potatoes, peeled and cubed about 2 c.
Cooked carrots, peeled and cubed about 1 c.
Diced green onion or regular onion 1/4 c.
4 pickles chopped
2 t. oil
salt, pepper and dillweed to taste
 It is really colorful and yummy!