Penne With Roasted Beets Beet Greens And Fresh Chevre Food

SIMPLE ROASTED BEETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut off the leafy tops of the beets, leaving about 1/2 inch of stem, and reserve them for another use. Wash the beets well to remove all of the sand.
• Toss the beets with the oil, 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Transfer the beets to a large piece of foil, add the herb sprig if using and wrap the foil up into a packet. Put the packet on a baking sheet and roast until fork-tender, 40 to 50 minutes depending on the size of the beets. Carefully open the packet, watching out for steam. Let the beets cool for 5 minutes, then peel while still warm by rubbing off the skins with paper towels.
• Slice and dress the beets as desired and serve.

VEGETARIAN PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the onion, summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic in butter until tender. , In a small bowl, whisk the flour, seasonings and cream until smooth; add to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Drain pasta and add to vegetable mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

ROASTED BEETS AND SAUTEED BEET GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
• Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
• When the roasted beets are almost done, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear the beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add them to the skillet. Cook and stir until greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper.

BAKED PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.
• In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.
• Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

CREAMY BEET PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Rinse beets and trim the top and bottom. Cut in half if they're large. Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper.
• Place beets in a baking dish with 1 tablespoon water. Cover tightly and roast 45-55 minutes or until beets are fork tender. Cool until you can handle the beets.
• Using rubber gloves or paper towels, rub the skin off of the beets (gloves recommended). Chop into cubes and set aside.
• In a saucepan, cook onion and garlic in butter until tender.
• Add cooked onion mixture, beets, (about 2 ½ cups of chopped beets) and broth to a blender. Process until very smooth, you should have about 1 ¼ cups of puree.
• Add beet puree to a saucepan and slowly whisk in the heavy cream. Add thyme and cayenne pepper, bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Once thickened, turn heat off and stir in cheese.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta al dente in salted water according to package directions. Drain well, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
• Toss pasta with sauce, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed.

PENNE WITH ROASTED BEETS, BEET GREENS, AND FRESH CHEVRE

Steps:

• Toss beets with oil and roast at 375 degrees until soft and caramelized. While beets are roasting, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat with garlic for one minute. Add greens and sauté until slightly soft, about 3 minutes.
• Toss roasted beets and cooked greens with the hot pasta and stir cheese in to melt. Pour into two bowls and top each with pine nuts.

FARRO SALAD WITH BEETS, GREENS AND FETA

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the greens. Blanch for two minutes, and transfer to the ice water. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• Bring the water back to a boil, and add the farro. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, stirring from time to time, or until the farro is tender. Remove from the heat and allow the grains to swell in the cooking water for 10 minutes, then drain.
• While the farro is cooking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk together the vinegars, salt, garlic and mustard. Whisk in the oil(s). Add to the farro. Peel and dice the beets and add, along with the beet greens, feta or goat cheese, herbs and walnuts. Toss together, and serve warm or room temperature with a little more cheese sprinkled over the top if you wish.

SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS BEET GREENS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the beet greens, and cook uncovered until tender, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the greens are cold, drain well, and coarsely chop.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the greens until oil and garlic is evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper. Cook just until greens are hot; serve with lemon wedges.

ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH SPICY MAPLE PECANS AND CHRISSY'S FRESH CHèVRE

Steps:

• TO ROAST THE BEETS: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set the beets in a roasting pan or ovenproof casserole in a single layer. Pour in the stock, wine, brown sugar, the 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, onion, ginger, salt, and the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil or the casserole lid. Roast the beets until they are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour (a sharp knife will pull out easily from the center of a beet). Transfer the beets with tongs to a clean cutting board to cool. Reserve 6 tablespoons of the beet braising liquid for the vinaigrette.
• Wearing clean rubber gloves to prevent red fingertips, if desired, cut off the beets' green "stubble" and skinny tails. Hold the beets under cool running water to loosen the skins, then slip off the skins with a little pressure from your fingers. Set the beets aside.
• TO MAKE THE PECANS: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease it with butter or cooking spray. In a frying pan set over medium heat, combine the 1 tablespoon olive oil, maple syrup, sugar, the 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in the pecan halves. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the pecans, about 10 minutes. Pour the pecans onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly with a spoon. Let cool before breaking them apart.
• TO MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE: Whisk together the reserved 6 tablespoons beet braising liquid, lemon juice, white wine and balsamic vinegars, rosemary, mustard, salt, black pepper, and the 1/2 cup olive oil.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE SALAD: Cut the beets into bitesize pieces. Toss the beets with the salad greens in a large bowl. Divide the salad evenly among 8 salad plates. Cut the goat cheese into 8 slices and top each salad with a slice. Sprinkle with a few candied pecans and drizzle on the vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
• Chrissy Omo's passion for goat cheese began at age sixteen, when her father's job took the family to Europe. It was love at first taste and Chrissy, whose pet goat had taken second place in a Future Farmers of America competition when she was fifteen, now embarked on a quest to learn to make the stuff. While still a high schooler she worked for two months at Pure Luck Farm and Dairy in Dripping Springs under its award-winning goat-cheese maker Amelia Sweethardt. "Mom wanted me to see what it was really like," says Chrissy.
• Mother, father, and daughter agreed to finance the cheese business with savings from Chrissy's college fund. They invested in a small herd of goats and created a dairy on their property. When Chrissy was a senior in high school, she began selling her cheese commercially. CKC Cheese (the initials stand for Chrissy and younger brothers Kenny and Conner) is a family-run operation. Chrissy's mom, Adriana, is an experienced entrepreneur who handles the finances. Mother and daughter often do the deliveries together, bringing her handcrafted cheeses to customers throughout the Hill Country, including the Fredericksburg farmers' market, as well as to specialty stores in Austin. Chrissy's brothers help out with milking and other chores, but "no one but me touches the cheese," she says.
• The goat herd has grown to more than 160 head, and Chrissy produces 300 to 400 pounds of cheese a week, from seasoned feta and baby caprino (a soft, Italian-style cheese that is aged for three weeks) to creamy fresh chèvre. Despite the expanded production, Chrissy continues to juggle her cheesemaking with schoolwork. She's on track to graduate with a degree in international business from Texas State University in San Marcos. "I love making cheese," she says. And I love eating it-especially when it comes from Chrissy's goats.
• You can roast the beets ahead and refrigerate them with the reserved beet juice in a covered container for up to 2 days. The pecans can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature in a tightly covered container. Prepare the vinaigrette up to 3 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate until needed.
• When you roast beets, purchase ones that are all about the same size. That way they will be done at the same time.

VEGETABLE PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute carrots in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, basil and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender., Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into vegetables. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Drain pasta; stir into vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with parsley.