Cold Beet Salad and Broccoli Roasted with Garlic and Lemon

I allowed the garden to dictate dinner tonight.  I knew I would pick broccoli; however, I spied some beets perfect for pulling.  So 2 vegetable sides that are quick, healthy and tasty for you tonight.  I often roast broccoli, alone or with a variety of other vegetables.  Adding the lemon and minced garlic was an idea from Rachel Ray.  Sounded simple enough to let the broccoli be the star.  Make sure you add the lemon zest, it gave it an even fresher taste, if that was possible being that it was cut from the stem and cooked within 10 minutes!
The beet salad is similar to pickled beets.  Although you don't simmer the vinegar and sugar.  It is more of a dressing on the beets instead of a full pickle.  I pulled 2 types of beets, one the traditional sugar beet and the other I can't remember the name, maybe French beets? Don't remember, but they were sweet and tender!

Cold Beet Salad
printable recipe

5-6 fresh beets
1/4 c. cider vinegar
1 T. sugar
1 T. olive oil
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the greens off of the beets, leaving about an inch of the stems.  If you cut the fully off, while they are cooking, they will leech out all of their juice.  Cover in cold water and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Run under cold water and peel the skins off with a paper towel.  If needed cut them into pieces to make bite size.

Whisk together the rest of the ingredients.  Pour over the beets and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to marinate before serving.

Broccoli Roasted with Garlic and Lemon
printable recipe

1 head of fresh broccoli, peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces.
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Spread broccoli on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with 2 T. of the olive oil.
Sprinkle with the lemon zest.

Whisk the remaining oil, garlic and lemon juice together.  Pour over broccoli. Toss to coat.
Roast for 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the broccoli pieces.  Shake the pan half way through cooking.