Roasted Beets with Blue Cheese & Walnuts

(4-6 servings)

My move left me sore and exhausted, but I'm thrilled that's behind me. I have spent the better part of two weeks taking it easy and recuperating at a friend's house. My friend has the most amazing kitchen. Thing is, she doesn't cook and I have been so tired, I haven't felt much like cooking either. Instead, I have been happily consuming frozen dinners and small containers of yogurt, lol.

This beet salad will probably be the last thing I prepare for a while. (In a few days I'll be on my way to Santa Fe, MN.) I haven't cooked beets nearly as often as I did a few years ago. Back then I was consuming about two pounds of them a week. Too much of a good thing has its disadvantages.

This salad of roasted beets, blue cheese and toasted nuts is delicious. It makes me wish I'd made more use of this fabulous kitchen.

2 lbs small beets
3-4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3-4 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 tsp very fine orange zest
1/3 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp parsley, chopped
salt and freshly cracked black pepper, as needed

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Wash the beets and trim off the leaves if they have any. Reserve those for another use. Place 2-3 beets onto squares of foil and enclose the foil around them until you have a small packet. You will have two to four of them depending on the size of your beets.

Place the packets onto a baking sheet and bake for about 50-70 minutes or until the beets have softened and can easily be pierced with a knife. Remove from oven. Open up the tops of the packets to prevent them from cooking further and cool until they can be handled.

Slip the peels off the beets, cut them into small wedges and place them into a large bowl.

Combine 3 tablespoons each of the vinegar and orange juice and stir in the orange zest. Taste, and add more vinegar or juice to your liking. Pour this mixture over the warm beets and toss until they are evenly coated. Cool the beets to room temperature.

To serve, top the beets with toasted walnuts, blue cheese and parsley. Add a pinch of salt and cracked pepper, if desired.