Beet Root
Beta vulgaris
Beetroots represent the love of beauty and also harbor the energy of the earth and the underworld, that of rebirth. They are also associated with blood.
Nutritious, and able to be stored for a long time in a cool, dry place, beets are a survival food for long cold winters harboring in their bright red flesh the promise of the rebirth of springtime making it an excellent addition to Imbolc and Spring Equinox dishes. Its blood red color makes it a great addition to Samhain meals and its association with love and beauty makes it a great addition to the Beltane menu. Finally, its festive red color lends itself well to any harvest celebration as well as the Midwinter table. In short, beets are extremely versatile.
Pickled beets are nice, but I think beets taste best when roasted. Scrub, but don't peel, a fresh beet and coat its skin with oil. Place it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour, or until its soft but not mushy (this will vary according to the size of the beet). Peel and slice and enjoy warm with sour cream or chill and use on a salad.
Don't worry about the technicolor poo you experience the next day, it is the normal result of eating beets. Beets are very protective of the colon.
When you prepare beets, be sure to save the greens. Beet greens are delicious and nutritious!
Beet juice can be used to dye eggs and as an ink for use in love spells. It can also be used as a natural food coloring.
1 serving (1/2 cup) of beets contains:
37 calories, .2 g fat (4.3 mg Omega 3, 49.3 mg Omega 6) 1.4 g protein, 8.5 g carbs (1.7 g from fiber, 6.8 g from sugars), 65.4 mg sodium
Beets are a good source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, folate and manganese
Correspondences
Element(s): Earth -
Planet(s): Saturn -
Zodiac Sign: - -
Season: Winter
Sabbat: Spring Equinox
Deities:
Gender: Feminine
love, beauty, rebirth, survival, fertility, blood
Recipes that contain Beet Root
Notes from the Test Kitchen
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