Beets

For those who have only had beets out of a can, a fresh beet right out of the oven is a revelation. If you want to dramatize the presentation, buy the largest beets you can find and carve them at the table. The best way to cook beets is to roast them in their skin—wrapped in aluminum foil or on a sheet pan so they don’t drip on the oven floor—and then peel them afterward. If you are cooking only one or two beets, consider using the microwave, either by itself or in conjunction with the oven.