Veggie Tales

Yesterday, there was some chat on Twitter about sweet potatoes – mainly because Amy Beth said she’d never eaten one.

Her status as a true Southerner is now in question.

Both BooMama and I expressed shock and dismay that Amy Beth had lived her life thus deprived. Veronica commented that no other food can claim to be a side dish, a pie, soup and fries. (I’d add biscuit to that list. I saw Paula Deen make sweet potato biscuits on TV once, and my mental taste buds have never recovered.)

Sweet potatoes are truly sublime.

When we went to South Carolina this past winter, I almost fainted from ecstasy when the little seafood restaurant we visited one night had baked sweet potatoes as a possible side dish. And when the server asked me if I wanted my sweet potato with the usual toppings, those being butter, brown sugar and a little cinnamon? I died right on the spot.

The funny thing is, I didn’t grow up eating sweet potatoes (which is acceptable, since I’m a Yankee). We ate syrupy sweet potatoes covered with a blanket of toasted marshmallows each Thanksgiving and Christmas. But that was it.

I had no idea what I was missing. I now say, with conviction, that a life without oven-roasted sweet potato fries is hardly worth living.

An epiphany like that makes me wonder: What other undiscovered gems are out there?

Which brings me to my point.

At the farmer’s market last Friday, I passed a booth selling gorgeous multi-colored beets -- crimson and golden jewels piled high on the table. I’ve never cooked a beet, myself, and the only beets I've ever eaten have been the pickled variety, which are vile. But I’ve been hearing some positive buzz about beets lately, especially roasted beets. And since I’ve recently become a strong believer in the roasting of vegetables, I decided to take the plunge. Thus, two bunches of beets are now sitting in my fridge.

But, between you and me, the beets, they scare me a little. I've read stories of mass staining, burgundy hands and "a meaty, earthy flavor."

What have I done?

Anyone out there want to reassure me?

Amy Beth?

Anyone?