GIANT BEET RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Layer 2 sheets of foil and place beets in center of foil, then spray lightly with oil to help skins slide away when you slough them later
• Season with salt and pepper
• Form a pouch, seal closed and roast 60 to 75 minutes until fork tender on small baking sheet (just in case the beets leak juice)
• Cool and peel beets with paper towels and shred on large-tooth grater
• Heat wine and stock in a saucepot over low heat to warm the liquids
• Pour any leftover beet juice from the foil pouch into the pot
• Heat the EVOO in a round-bottom pan over medium to medium-high heat
• Add the shallots, season with salt and pepper and stir 3 minutes
• Add garlic and rice and season with salt and pepper; let rice toast for a minute
• Add pollen and zest, stir a minute more, then add the first third of the wine and stock, stirring with round wooden spoon or risotto paddle (a spoon with a hole in the center to build the starch in the rice as you stir)
• Once you add the first liquids, the risotto should take 18 minutes to al dente
• Add in the grated beets once the first addition of liquids has been absorbed
• Add the next additions of liquids only after each is fully absorbed
• With the last addition of the liquids, add the greens (reserving some for garnish) to wilt in and then stir in butter and cheese when rice is just right and still pourable
• Stir in herbs, reserving just a bit to garnish
• Listicle: Rachael Ray Cast Iron Cooking Combo Fry eggs up easy or over hard with dabs of butter over medium heat
• Serve risotto in shallow bowls topped with eggs seasoned with salt and pepper and a bit of herbs

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Fill a bowl with ice water. Blanch the spinach for no more than 20 seconds, just until wilted, and transfer to the ice water, then drain. Squeeze out excess water. Bring the water in the pot back to a boil and add the pasta shells. Cook al dente, about 10 minutes, and drain and toss with the olive oil. Set aside.
• Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop in the garlic. When the garlic is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the spinach and pulse to chop finely. Add the ricotta and the egg and process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup of the Parmesan, the chives, and salt and pepper to taste. Pulse until well blended.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a large baking dish or two 2-quart dishes. The shells should fit into the dish in one layer. Fill each shell with a scant tablespoon of the filling. Arrange in a single layer in the baking dish. Top with the tomato sauce and cover the dish with foil.
• Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the heat, sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan, and serve.