Until I watched Anthony Bourdain order green borscht from a restaurant in Ukraine, I had only ever thought of the soup as bright purple and made of beets. Considering it's National Soup Month, I set off on a culinary mission to learn as much as I could (in a couple of hours) about borscht. Here's what I learned in a nutshell. Borscht originated from the trimmings of Winter vegetables, Read more

Well, you should, because this moist chocolate-beet cake recipe is one of the most delicious and interesting desserts I've had in a long time. Beets happen to be one of my favorite vegetables because of the earthy taste and vivid color, and the fact that this recipe artfully transforms the root into a luscious cake is just really cool. There are more steps to this recipe than most cakes, because Read more

Once Fall farmers market hits, I always buy at least one bunch of beets just about every week. Week after week I roast the bunch, but beet salads can become a little tiresome. I skipped the salad bowl and started experimenting with this Fall root vegetable as a pizza topping. My first attempt resulted in pizza — a creamy, earthy and a delicious meatless meal complete with roasted beets, goat Read more

I must admit I'd been seriously dismayed to see peaches and watermelons being replaced by Fall fruits at the farmers market, but once a myriad of different beets caught my eye, the season managed to redeem itself. From the crimson-red garden beet to the pink-and-white striped Chioggia, these root vegetables come in a range of stunning, jewel-toned hues.They add a punch of color — and a sweet, Read more

When the colors of Autumn beg us to return to the golden hues of root vegetables, the first in line to blossom is the beet. From the crimson-red sugar beet to the pink-and-white striped Chioggia, these root vegetables come in a range of stunning, jewel-toned hues. They add a punch of color — and a sweet, mildly buttery flavor when cooked — to just about any course and are at their most tender Read more

Fruits and veggies are full of vitamins and nutrients, but eating them can do some funky things to your body. We all know that beans can make you gassy and onions can cause bad breath, but here are some of produce's effects on the body that might not be as familiar. Asparagus: After eating some grilled spears with dinner, you may notice an odoriferous effect when you use the restroom. Does Read more

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the humble salad is not one of the spectacular standout sides. It's overshadowed by more showy dishes like creamy mashed potatoes with rich giblet gravy or melt-in-your-mouth stuffing with juicy sausage. However, with interesting ingredients and a proper homemade vinaigrette, the salad can be transformed into a side worthy of competing with the best potatoes and Read more

I love beets and I love walnuts, but the healthy nuts don't seem to need much of a hard sell. Beets, on the other hand, are shunned by many, and unrightfully so in my opinion. This recipe by former Google chef Charlie Ayers is a great way to work beets into a meal for folks that have no love for the red tuber. At a recent event celebrating the health benefits of the California walnut, I overheard Read more

My son can find a security camera in any public location from shops to restaurants to stoplights in a matter of minutes. Until he pointed them out, I never realized that Big Brother really is everywhere. I take my three kids out by myself fairly often, and since my middle guy is a bit of a wild card, I use the cameras to my advantage. When he inquires about what they are watching, I tell him his Read more