Category Archives: Vegetables – Growing

One more thing to do with Beetroot Tops

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I love greens and have no problem with eating vegetarian meals, providing I have a bit of Parmigiano to sprinkle over the top. This recipe has it all, as far as I am concerned. I have polenta, bechamel sauce and beetroot leaves fresh from my garden.  Using my beetroot and turnips as dual purpose plants give me great satisfaction.

Baked Beetroot Tops and Polenta

Pre heat the oven to 200 deg

Prepare and cook the beetroot leaves. See link

Beetroot leaves

Cook the polenta. see link

MAKE GOOD POLENTA

Make the bechamel sauce according to your favourite recipe.

While still warm, layer the bottom of an ovenproof dish with polenta. Sprinkle parmigiano liberally. Spread the greens over the polenta and top with bechamel sauce. Repeat the layers until the dish is full. Drizzle sparingly with olive oil and sprinkle with more parmigiano.

Bake in the oven for 30 min until the top is golden and crispy. Serve immediately.

Beetroot leaves

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I love dual purpose things like a milk cow that effectively produces meat, chickens and quails that lay eggs and make delicious eating, and radishes and beetroot because one can eat the leaves, too. For lunch I prepared beetroot leaves as a side but we ate it as a main course because it tasted terrific. I washed and and cut the stems off as close to the root as I could get without damaging the skin of the beetroot. I wrapped the beet and a bit of rosemary in foil and popped it in to the oven while my bread was baking. I fried some garlic and rosemary in a teaspoon full of olive oil,  chopped the leaves and stems, coarsely and added them to the pan. after frying for a minute I added about 2 tablespoons of water and covered the pan. Cook until tender adding a bit of water when necessary. Delicious. I intend eating the beetroot tomorrow dressed with some balsamic vinigar salad dressing and shaved Parmigiana cheese.

I would like to know of other plants where roots/ fruits and leaves can be eaten.

The EU General Court revoking permissions to superpotato Basf – Subject matter: GMO

http://www.slowfood.it/sloweb/2cfe8eba4b0f45352ef6f2ea0dba3d52/il-tribunale-ue-revoca-le-autorizzazioni-alla-superpatata-basf

The Broad Beans are growing well this year

FAVA (BROAD BEANS)

Very few vegetables are as versatile as the Fava Bean. Early in the season they can be plucked from their skin and eaten with Pecorino Cheese as they do in Italy. Fresh Fava has a sweet taste and goes well with fresh herbs, lemon juice, leafy greens and mild cheese such as mozzarella. Also good in purees, soups, casseroles, risottos and frittata. Dry Fava makes an excellent winter staple.

 2013-10-05 - Fava Plant

 Shell all the fresh beans but the very youngest and steam for 5 minutes, and then toss with olives and butter. Enjoy!