Creative ways to use your beets this 4th!

Get your beets while they're fresh! New Roots farmers grow several varieties, including the classic Detroit Dark Red, bullseye-patterned Chioggia, beautiful Golden Detroit, and long, slender Cylindra. Beets are rich in potassium and Vitamin C, and their incredible color is too good to pass up. 

Beets at KCK Greenmarket at Catholic Charities, every Tuesday from 9:30am - 12:30pm.

Farmer Nyakang at the Catholic Charities market

To ensure that your beets stay fresh, cut off the leafy green tops. This way, the plant puts its remaining energy into the root and not the leaves, keeping the beet firm and delicious for longer! Don't toss the greens in the compost, though - sauteed with garlic, onion and oil, they make a great side.

If you're looking for a creative new way to prepare your beets, try an easy beet chip recipe - simply slice your beets thinly and arrange them on a cookie sheet. Drizzle them with a bit of olive or vegetable oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake at 375 degrees F for about 45 minutes, turning the beets over once and cooking until crisp. Beet chips are a healthy alternative to potato chips, and make a festive (red!) addition any 4th of July spread.

Another fun way to use up any extra beets, and to take advantage of their wonderful color, is tie dye! To make beet dye - puree several beets with water in a blender, strain out the left over pulp, and add water until you have the color you want. Tie up a shirt, socks, bandana, or whatever you've got, spritz with beet dye, and see what pattern you end up with!

Happy 4th of July, and we hope to see you at markets this week.

Farmer Upendra at market on Tuesday