Baked Beets

YOU CAN LIVE in France and never know that beets grow in the ground, or have leafy tops, or require long cooking. French markets sell beets fully cooked, ready to peel and eat. In this country, however, this convenience is not afforded the home cook.

Although most cooks boil beets, causing a good deal of the color and flavor of the vegetable to be lost, I prefer to bake them in the oven. Baking beets enhances both their color and flavor. Once cooked, they can be refrigerated for up