Dark Chocolate Beet Bundt Cake - #BundtBakers

Do you have any strange but good-weird flavor combinations that you love to eat?  I love to eat my french fries by dipping them in a chocolate fudge sundae. There, I said it out loud.  Call me weird but there is just something about that sweet and salty taste that has me going back for more. A few months ago I saw a chocolate cake in a magazine that had a secret ingredient - beets. When this month's theme for #BundtBakers, strange but good-weird flavor combinations, was revealed I knew that this would be the perfect cake for me to try.

Caprese Beet Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Happy Memorial Day!

Although I am a big fan of beets I have never cooked them myself.  When I saw both red and golden beets at the Farmer's Market I knew that the golden beets would be going home with me.  I decided to go for a simple preparation and use them in a salad.  I had already planned a Caprese Salad, so it was an easy decision to add the beets to it.

The Caprese Salad was created in the 1950s at the Trattoria da Vincenzo. The salad usually takes the form of tomato, mozzarella and basil.  The traditional dressing is a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil as vinegar would destroy the delicate flavor of the cheese and is never used - except in my household.  I love this salad drizzled with a little balsamic glaze.  A balsamic glaze is a reduction made from balsamic vinegar, that results in a beautiful thick syrup that has a little sweetness to it.  I guess it is also very non-traditional to add beets to your Caprese Salad - what can I say, I'm a rebel.

This salad is something that we enjoy quite often as it is so easy to prepare.  I usually slice and layer the main ingredients on a platter and then cover it and place in the refrigerator until we are ready to serve.  All it needs is the basil, a little freshly ground salt and pepper, a quick drizzle of balsamic glaze and it is good to go.  I have also served it over a bed of arugula and this is great too.

Caprese Beet Salad with Balsamic Glaze

(Printer Friendly Recipe)

Ingredients

• 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch slices
• 1-1lb log mozzarella cheese, cut into ¼-inch slices (I always use the one from Costco)
• 2 medium cooked beets, cut into ¼-inch slices
• 6 large basil leaves, thinly sliced
• freshly ground salt and pepper
• balsamic glaze, to drizzle

Preparation

1. Layer the mozzarella, beet, and tomato.
2. Arrange basil on top.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Recipe by All That's Left Are The Crumbs