Orange Glazed Roasted Beets

On the Menu Today~
Orange Glazed Roasted Beets~

Every time I buy beets or make beets,
I think of this song from Sesame Street.....

Sugar Beets are a major source of sugar.

The Sugarbeet is a root crop that
thrives in temperature climates where
the growing season is roughly five months long.
Farms can be found in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

Sugarbeets are planted in late March/early April and
harvested in late September and October.
Sugarbeets are about a foot long,
weigh two to five pounds and
are about 18% sucrose.
Because beets are perishable,
factories are generally located near the fields.
Factories operate around the clock,
seven days a week,
from October through April.
Beet sugar represents about 54%
of domestically produced sugar and
there is no difference between beet and cane sugar.
Some beet sugar brands are: Crystal Sugar, Holly Sugar,
Western Sugar, Big Chief Sugar and Pioneer Sugar...

Beets that we eat,
are more commonly know as the garden beet.

This firm round root vegetable has leafy green tops,
which are also edible and highly nutritious.
The most common color for beets,
also called beetroots, is a deep garnet red.
Beets can range from deep red to white.
The Chioggia also called "candy cane"
because of its circular rings of red and white.

Beets are available year-round.
Choose beets that are firm and have smooth skin.
Small or medium beets are generally more tender than larger beets.
The beet greens should be crisp and bright green.
Removed the leaves as soon as you get them home.
Store the beet leaves in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and
use the beet leaves within a few days.
Leave about an inch of the stems attached to the beet..
this will prevent loss of nutrients and color during cooking.
Store beets in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Orange Glazed Roasted Beets

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 pounds fresh beets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2/3 cup orange marmalade
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• juice from one orange

Cooking Directions

1. In a large saucepan, cover the beets with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat and simmer, covered for 40 to 45 minutes or until almost tender. Drain, cool slightly. Peel by slipping off the skins while still warm, quarter beets.
2. Roast Beets: Spread beets on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in a 425º oven for 25 to 35 minutes.
3. Make Orange Glaze: In a small saucepan, stir together marmalade, cornstarch, honey, vinegar, cinnamon, orange zest and orange juice.
4. Heat over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
5. Remove beets from oven, reduce heat to 350º
6. Pour orange glaze mixture over beets, stir to coat beets.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, watch carefully.

Orange, Beets, Roasted,

For more information: Sugar Beets