Heart-Beets

Ohhh, romance.  Every year, as you may know by now, i try to make something special for my husband on valentine's day.  We make each other little cards and he usually brings me flowers or little surprises.  This year, I was busy, okay?  Also, he ordered me this box of deliciousness and we both gorged enough for an entire month to come.  (btw, those vegan twix bars… my GOD)  So, I thought, what's romantic and savory?  And beets came to mind, because, well, i'm somewhat unbalanced and a beet looks a little like a drippy, bloody, beautiful still beating heart, right?  Now, that's romance!

So, honestly, I didn't have super amounts of time on my hands this holiday, but I did have some of the new packages of trader joe's 10 minute barley (uhhhh can we talk about being able to eat this even when i forget to soak it in the morning?!).. and some roasted beets from lunch the day before… and a bag of organic kale.  BABE, LOOK AT THIS DINNER I SLAVED OVER ALL DAY CAUSE I LOVE YOU AND SHIT.

10 Minute Beet &Barley Risotto

2-2 1/2 cups hot stock (chicken, veg, whatever)

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots, chopped

3 sprigs fresh thyme, picked, chopped

1 bag trader joe's 10 minute barley

4-5 beets, roasted, cut into chunks (you know how to roast a beet, right?)

salt + fresh pepper

1. Put stock in pot on stove and turn on heat to medium just to warm through.

2. In separate pan (i like a dutch oven for this) heat olive oil on medium and saute shallot until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add in thyme and stir, saute another 3-4 minutes until totally soft.

3. Add in barley and saute for about 3-4 minutes until it smells nutty and fragrant and is nice and shiny from the oil.

4. Add in two ladles of stock and stir.  Let evaporate mostly then 2 more ladles at a time until barley is cooked.  This should take about 10 minutes or more if you're being a sissy about it.

5. When barley is cooked turn off heat and add in roasted beets, season to taste with salt and fresh pepper.  Serve with some kind of easy side dish, like quick braised kale or just on its own like a big, steaming bowl of L-O-V-E.

Happy Valentine's Day, suckas!