Uncle Bills Creamed Young Beets And Tops Food

UNCLE BILL'S BEETS & STRING BEANS IN A CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium sized saucepan, add whole beets, (Do not cut the top or bottom of the beets.).
• Snip the ends off the string beans and discard, then add them to the saucepan with beets. Cover with hot water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to a strong simmer, place lid on saucepan and cook the beans for 10 minutes. Remove beans into a mixing bowl and cover with cold water; set aside.
• Continue to cook the beets for an additional 20 - 25 minutes or just until you can pierce the beets with a fork; do not overcook.
• Immediately drain the beets and cover with cold water, drain and cover again with cold water and let sit for 3 minutes.
• Cut the tips and bottom of the beets, peel the skins and discard.
• Cut the beets into quarters and then slice them to about 1/8 inch thick slices.
• In a large frying pan, melt butter on medium-high heat.
• Add the sliced beets and stir to coat with butter.
• Cut the beans in half and add to the frying pan stirring to coat with butter.
• Saute' the beets/beans for 8 minutes, mixing often.
• Add the sugar, salt, granulated garlic powder, dried dill weed and whipping cream, stirring to coat beets/beans.
• Continue to simmer uncovered for another 3 to 5 minutes or until a nice creamy sauce begins to form and thicken slightly.
• Serve as a side dish or over a slice of bread.
• NOTE: You can also use yellow string beans.
• It takes about 6 - 1 1/2" diameter beets for 12 ounces.
• It takes about 16 - 6" long beans for 6 ounces.

UNCLE BILL'S CREAMED YOUNG BEETS AND TOPS

Steps:

• Snip off the thin portion of the young beet root and discard.
• Wash the small beet with the beet tops well in cold water.
• Place the beet tops in a large cooking pot.
• Cover with cold water and bring to boil.
• Cover and cook for about 4 - 5 minutes or until the greens just start to wilt.
• Immediately remove the beets into a large frying pan using a slotted spoon.
• Add butter and fry on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, stirring often.
• Now add the whipping cream, salt and pepper.
• Stir to coat beets and continue to fry until the whipping cream is reduced and starts to thicken into a creamy sauce, about 3 minutes.
• Serve along with your dinner meal.
• You may also use larger fresh beet top greens, but remove most of the stem from the leaves and discard.
• If desired, you can also use larger beets, but firstly peel them and cut them into very small cubes.
• Cook the cubed beets in water for about 4 minutes before adding the beet greens.
• Then continue to cook for another 4 minutes.
• Proceed in the same method as for the young beets.
• This method also works well for Swiss Chard.

UNCLE BILL'S CARROTS - TURNIP - PARSNIP DISH

Steps:

• Prepare vegetables as noted and place them in a large saucepan.
• Cover with water, bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutues or until vegetables are tender.
• Drain well.
• Add salt, pepper and butter and mash well.
• Serve as a vegetable with your meal.
• This is also very good the next day, re-heated.
• Parsnips are available in different sizes. Measured across the top of the parsnips, Small - about 1 inch, Medium - about 1 1/2 inches, Large - about 2 inches.

UNCLE BILL'S OPEN FACE HOAGIE WITH CREAM CHEESE AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Cut Hoagie bun in half lengthwise and toast lightly.
• Spread butter evenly on each half bun.
• Spread cream cheese evenly on each half.
• Spread lettuce evenly on each half.
• Spread chopped onions evenly on each half.
• Spread sweet red pepper evenly on each half.
• Spread sliced olives evenly on each half.
• Now drizzle with Italian herb dressing to your taste.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper to your taste.
• If desired, you may also layer some thinly sliced black forest ham.
• Also some shredded carrot makes for a very nice taste.
• This recipe doubles or quadruples very easily.

UNCLE BILL'S RUSSIAN/DOUKHOBOUR BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large (8 quart) stock pot, add water and bring to boil.
• Add 1/2 cup of mashed tomatoes, quartered potatoes, chopped carrots, chopped onions, salt and beets and return to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for 15 minutes or until potatoes are just cooked.
• Meanwhile, begin to prepare all vegetables.
• When potatoes are cooked, remove with a slotted spoon into a mixing bowl.
• Add 3 tablespoons butter to potatoes, mash well.
• Stir in whipping cream, mixing well to incorporate; set aside.
• In a large frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter, add chopped onions and saute' until just softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add remaining mashed tomatoes and simmer uncovered until reduced to a creamy consistency.
• The sauce will be thickened.
• Cover, reduce heat to keep warm.
• In another large frying pan, melt the remainder 3 tablespoons butter, add 4 cups of shredded cabbage and on medium heat, fry until softened and very lightly browned, about 15 minutes, DO NOT BURN.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• To the cooking pot, add cubed potatoes and 1/2 cup of tomato-onion mixture.
• Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add cauliflower and celery and continue to boil gently until potatoes are just tender.
• Stir in remaining 4 cups of raw shredded cabbage and return soup to boil.
• Reduce heat; stir in mashed potatoes, fried cabbage and remaining tomato-onion mixture.
• Add diced green and red peppers, freshly ground black pepper, dill weed, lemon juice.
• Return to boil and cook for 3 more minutes.
• Cover and reduce heat to just warm and let borscht sit for 30 minutes for flavors to blend.
• Remove beets and discard or eat them separately.
• The beets are for coloring only.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• If borscht is too sweet to your liking, stir in some additional lemon juice.
• If desired, serve with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• Traditionally, medium or sharp cheddar cheese pieces and fresh bread or buns are served with the borscht.