Roasted Beet Salad with Baby Kale, Blackberries, and Tangerines dressed with a Balsamic Reduction

This colorful array of goodness has been my favorite salad since I was a tiny little girl. I have always adored beets, their rich varying colors, their earthy robust flavor. Simply sent from the divine. In this dish the roasted beets give way to the sweet juiciness of blackberries, and then a tart blast from the tangerines all evened out by the grounded baby kale. The balsamic reduction that is added with the warm beets becomes a caramelized sensation that brings you on a journey you will want to take again and again. This dish brings together simple, seasonal ingredients and takes you back to what nourishment from food is all about. Get ready to crave this daily!!

Roasted Beet Salad with Baby Kale, Blackberries, and Tangerines dressed with a Balsamic Reduction

Serves: 3-4

The Goods:

2-3 Bunches of beets, red, candy, golden whatever is available

2 bunches of kale, or a bag full of baby kale

2 tangerines

1/2 pint of blackberries (more if you so desire)

2 cups balsamic vinegar

1 bunch of parsley

10 basil leaves

lemon zest and tangerine zest

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves

salt and pepper

Put it all together:

Wash beets well, you can save the greens if you wish and make delicious sauteed beet greens. Place washed beets in a roasting dish. Rub olive oil, salt and pepper all over them and place in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The beets will take about an hour to an hour and half depending on size. You want them soft yet firm. While the beets are roasting, prepare the kale and herbs. Wash the kale well, if you are using bunches of lacinato kale, de-stem it first and then wash well. If using baby kale just wash well and add to your favorite salad bowl. Chop basil, parsley and garlic cloves. Add to bowl with kale. Zest one lemon and one tangerine and add zest to salad bowl. Massage all with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Add tangerine and blackberries. When the beets are finished roasting take them out of the oven and allow them to cool on a cutting board. Once cool peel the skin off and slice however you wish. Now for the balsamic reduction. You will put the two cups of balsamic in a pan over medium heat, feel free to add lemon zest or herbs of your choice. Let the balsamic reduce for about 5-7 minutes. It will reduce to a gorgeous thick syrup. Pour this reduction right over the warm beets in the salad and then toss the salad together. You can also add fresh squeezed lemon juice for an extra punch! That is all. Simple ingredients, exquisite taste.

Enjoy!

Organic Vegan Pesto with Tomatoes and peppers Roasted in Balsamic and Sherry Vinegar

 

So favorite foods in the world… Tomatoes, Basil, and Tomatoes. Seriously there is nothing I love more than a gorgeous organic tomato right off the plant. The farmers at Farmers Market are awesome, and of course I have made many friends among them. However the lovely people who run the heirloom tomato stands in summer know me on a whole other level. Crazy tomato girl level. This is one of my very favorite dishes to entertain with. Its simple, and sinfully delicious. It wows a crowd, and yet does not stress the host to the point of drinking all the wine before everyone shows up. Win, win if you ask me! So lets get started. 

 

The Goods for the Pesto-

2 cups of basil

2 large garlic cloves, or 3 smaller cloves ( use your taste buds if you want it stronger add more, but go slow!)

1/4 cup pine nuts

a small handful of walnuts

The juice of 2 lemons (add more or less depending on taste)

Enough olive oil to make a smooth lovely pesto. Just add slowly while processing

Salt and Pepper

 

The Goods for the Roasted Tomatoes and Peppers

You can roast any tomatoes you like, however for presentation I always use Organic Sugar Plum Tomatoes!

2-3 peppers, I love yellow with the red and green, but feel free to use any color you like and add more or less!

Sherry Vinegar

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive oil

One full head of Garlic

Salt and Pepper

Basil and Parsley ( Optional)

 

The Goods to put all this great stuff on-

I use Organic French Baguettes sliced and toasted. You can use any bread you like really even Gluten Free!! Yum!! And feel free to toast with some olive oil and garlic!

I prepare the pesto first as it can sit in the fridge and get even tastier while I cook the rest. If you want to prep it the night before go for it! Just beware that the green can become less vibrant while sitting overnight but if you add more lemon on top it lessens the discoloration a bit!  You will need a food processor or a blender for this pesto. Start off by toasting the nuts lightly in a pan on low heat. Watch them carefully, I have personally murdered many a pine nut. Once the nuts are toasted set them aside. Wash your basil and make sure to pick as close to the stem as possible. If you get to many stems in the pesto it will be bitter! Place the basil in the food processor and process until chopped. Add the nuts, lemon, and garlic. Start processing and slowly pour in the olive oil until there is a nice smooth consistency. Lastly add salt and pepper,  add slowly and keep processing until the flavor is just right. With this recipe it is really based on personal taste. I love lemon, and I adore salt so I am pretty generous with both. Taste throughout and find your perfect pesto! Now onto the roasting of tomatoes and peppers. Your house if going to smell like bliss so be ready to start twirling around your kitchen with happiness. Place tomatoes and peppers into a roasting pan. You can do whole peppers or slice in half, which for me makes it a bit easier to peel! Place whole garlic cloves in and add a little chopped basil and parsley if you have it!  Drizzle olive oil,  and balsamic over the veggies and use your hands to coat evenly. Add just a bit of sherry and once again use your hands to coat! Put in over on 375 F for about 40 minutes give or take. Toast bread lightly in the oven and then slather the pesto on each piece, add tomatoes and peppers in whichever way is visually pleasing to you, and then devour! Remember to save some for your guests and family.  🙂  I hope you all love these little bites as much as I do! Enjoy!