You make my heart.....BEET

As summer gets closer…my cravings for salad lunches grows stronger and stronger.

This is one of my favorite salads , it tastes amazing, lively and sweet…and it looks so pretty on a plate it is always a summery entertaining favorite.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced

• 3 Golden beets

• 3 red beets

• 3 Navel Oranges , peel removed and sliced

• 1/4 red onion thinly sliced

• 4 or 5 red radishes thinly sliced

• 1/4 to 1/2 bunch cilantro

• 1 lime , juiced

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• pinch of flaked salt

• good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 400

• wash and cut the tops and tails off the beets, dry them and wrap each individually in aluminum foil.

• Bake in the oven for 1 hour, and allow to cool.

• using a sharp knife cut all peel and white pith from all oranges; discard. Slice the oranges crosswise into thin rounds.

• Peel the beets ( you can use your hands, the skin will just fall off) and slice them very thinly.

• Using a mandolin , slice the fennel and the radishes and the onion. Save some of the fennel greens for the salad.

• Layer the beets and oranges alongside the fennel, onion and radishes and garnish with cilantro and a little of the fennel greens.

• Combine the lime juice and lemon juice and drizzle over the plate. Add your olive oil and a pinch of the flaked salt. Serve immediately and enjoy.

• Do not mix to combine the dressing or all your veggies will turn red. Also when in season blood oranges would be amazing in this salad.

• Beets also are super healthy, they are packed with vitamins and minerals and are super low in calories.

  3.5 oz of cooked beets contain:

• Calories: 44

• Protein: 1.7 grams

• Fat: 0.2 grams

• Fiber: 2 grams

• Vitamin C: 6% of the RDI

• Folate: 20% of the RDI

• Vitamin B6: 3% of the RDI

• Magnesium: 6% of the RDI

• Potassium: 9% of the RDI

• Phosphorous: 4% of the RDI

• Manganese: 16% of the RDI

• Iron: 4% of the RDI

They help Keep Blood Pressure in Check

Several studies suggest that dietary nitrates may enhance athletic performance. For this reason, beets are often used by athletes.

They help Fight Inflammation

They improve digestive health because they are rich in dietary fiber

They help support healthy brains because they are high in nitrates which increase blood flow to the brain

Help out your diet by being low in calories and very filling

they are super easy to incorporate in your diet. They can be roasted, juiced, boiled, pickled.

Here are some ways to add beets to your daily nutrition:

• Beetroot salad: Grated beets make a flavorful and colorful addition to coleslaw.

• Beetroot dip: Beets blended with Greek yogurt make a delicious and healthy dip.

• Beetroot juice: Fresh beetroot juice is best, as store-bought juice can be high in added sugars and may only contain a small amount of beets.

• Beetroot leaves: Beet leaves can be cooked and enjoyed like spinach, so don't throw them out.