Hot Pink Pasta

What to do with all those summer beets? Try this!

4 red beets with stems and leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbls extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon
1/2 lb pasta
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese

Wash and dice the beets into 1/2 inch cubes, cut the stems into 1 inch pieces, wash, dry and chop the leaves into inch wide ribbons. Heat the olive oil in a saute pan, add the garlic and the diced beets. Season with salt. Saute until starting to soften, add the stems and cook a few minutes more until everything is soft but not mushy. Add the leaves and wilt. Squeeze lemon over the beets and greens, salt and pepper to taste, remove from heat.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente. You want the noodles a little undercooked so that they soak up the beet sauce.

Drain pasta, but do not rinse, and immediately toss with the beets. Add more olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and top with cheese. Eat!

The pasta will soak up the beet sauce and turn bright pink/red. Kids think this is cool. Try serving it to your pink-obsessed little princess. Use whole wheat pasta for more of a nutritional punch. Beets are loaded with folate and potassium as well as fiber and are very, very good for you. Just don't tell the princess that...