Vegetables--Wonderful Roasted Vegetables!

Once in awhile my best recipes come about by accident. It was time to clean out the vegetable bin in the refrigerator, and get ready for  fresh vegetables—we belong to a vegetable co-op that delivers weekly. There were six ears of corn I meant to cook earlier, completely forgotten. Sometimes being rich in vegetables makes me also a little wasteful. This winter I will only dream about my vegetable bin being full to overflowing.

So, along with the greens, peppers and tomatoes I'd already planned to prepare, there was corn that needed to be cooked. It wasn't a good night to grill, and I didn't want to just boil it, so I threw it into the oven and hoped for the best. I wasn't disappointed.

Next to the corn were six small beets that seemed to be just about to shrivel. I couldn't let those little red jewels turn into prune-like images of their former selves. No time like the present to try the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad I've seen on so many menus. I've never been fond of beets, and honestly think they taste a little like dirt, but roasting does wonders for most all vegetables. A little caramelization and suddenly the beets took on a delicious, deep flavor that was wonderful combined with the maple syrup vinaigrette and the goat cheese.

Hope you enjoy these easy and delicious ways to eat your vegetables!

Roasted Beet Salad

4-5 small beets, peeled and sliced into thick rounds

One-half cup chopped walnuts

5 T extra virgin olive oil, divided

2 T red wine vinegar

2 T maple syrup

1 shallot, finely chopped

Salad Greens (baby greens are particularly nice with some arugula)

8 oz. goat cheese, well chilled

2 eggs, beaten

~1 cup seasoned panko, or bread crumbs

Boil beets covered in water over medium heat for about 30 minutes.

Drain on paper towels to dry. Toss in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread beets onto sheet pan covered with foil and roast for 30 minutes in 425° oven. Half way through roasting time, sprinkle walnuts over beets and continue roasting.

Whisk together remaining oil, vinegar, syrup and shallot. Set aside.

Cut goat cheese in eight rounds. Dip each round into egg and then panko. Place on plate covered with wax paper and refrigerate until ready to serve salad. Just before serving, brown cheese rounds on both sides over medium heat in a nonstick skillet.

Place greens in salad bowl, add beets and walnuts, and finally goat cheese rounds. Pour vinaigrette over salad and serve.

Roasted Corn on the Cob

6 or more ears of corn, cleaned

1 stick of butter softened

One-half teaspoon garlic salt

1 tsp. Dried Italian herbs

Preheat oven to 350°.

Mix butter, garlic salt and herbs.

Line a baking pan with a large piece of foil. Place corn in pan and brush butter mixture over corn. Cover tightly with another piece of foil. Place in oven and cook for about an hour, turning corn once while cooking.

(If you have any corn left over, cut it off the cob and add it to a salad the next day.)