Conquering The Beet!

Let me stipulate that I can not cook.

I tried to boil a pound of baby carrots one day last week and despite checking on them every ten minutes, all of the water boiled out and the carrots burned to the bottom of the pot.

My kidney health professionals told me I had to eat beets. Lots of iron, low in protein. Canned beets have zero nutritional value (yes, I was surprised, too).

So fresh beets it was. The first time I bought them I realized that beets are hard as a rock. After cutting off the greens, I peeled them. Then I took out a knife which I thought would be sufficient for the slicing of such beets. Wrong.

I needed a butcher knife.

I had to make a notch in the beet and then place the knife in it then put my full weight on it and jump on top of it to make a slice.

I did that with three beets. I steamed them and they came out just fine. But my wrists and elbows (between which I've had five nerve surgeries causing arm weakness) were killing me.

Then I told some friends my story who proceeded to laugh at me - which I thought was pretty rude.

Apparently, all I had to do was plop those babies in a pot and boil them until they were fork tender then stick them in cold water. The skin would peel off and I could then slice them.

I tried that today and it worked like a charm.

A little oil & vinegar and some ground pepper as they are chilling and I'll have a nice veggie with my meal tonight.

Love beets! But I feel pretty foolish.