Garlic & Lemon Roasted Beets

So you're opening up your Perfectly Imperfect Produce box and you're super excited (I hope) about all of its contents, until you get to that mysterious looking item at the bottom. "Cool! But what IS this?," you think? "And what DO I DO with it?"

Have no fear, that's why we're here! We know that some of the items we include in our boxes might not be as familiar to some of you as others. That's one of the things we think is so special about our program. Yes, we are saving food that might otherwise be wasted and offering it at lower prices to help the people of Northeast Ohio eat healthier. BUT, what makes it even more fun is that we are encouraging our customers to try new foods that they've never had before! We're "expanding your palet," if you will! And maybe your children's too.

We often get feedback from our customers that they would have NEVER purchased an eggplant or an artichoke or a golden beet, mostly because they weren't sure what to do with it. But now that it's there in their kitchen staring at them, it forces them to come up with a way to use it. So they end up eating it and in most cases they end up enjoying it! And there you have it, suddenly you're eating a wider variety of fruits and veggies and you're eating better! We give you the recipe ideas to help you figure it all out!

Well in today's box that mysterious item might very well be that big golden beet. But you can't tell it's golden until you cut into it. Isn't it beautiful?! Not only is it pretty, it also contains all sorts of vitamins and minerals that are so beneficial for your body. With good amounts of fiber, iron, potassium, and folic acid, many orange and yellow color fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients including such as vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium, lycopene, flavonoids, and zeaxanthin.

So let me give you some ideas on how to use up these gorgeous golden beets. They are easier to cook than you might think! The most simple way to prepare them is to wash them and place them in tin foil. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and close it all up. Then roast it at 375 degrees for about 45 to 60 minutes. Let it cool and then peel and slice it. You can place it on top of a salad or eat it by itself.

Here's another idea:

GARLIC & LEMON ROASTED GOLDEN BEETS

What You Need:

* 1 large or a few small beets

* 1 Tbsp. olive oil

* 1 Tbsp. fresh herbs or 1 tsp. dried herbs like thyme, oregano or rosemary

* 1 clove garlic, minced

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Wash beet and cut it into 1 inch wedges.