Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
I’ve been trying to get in front of my computer for days now to sit down and share a recipe with all of you. I’ve been in the kitchen a fair amount this summer, but I really haven’t had the time or energy to take pictures, upload them to my computer, and write a blog post, I guess you can say I’ve been a little lazy. Cooking is very therapeutic and enjoyable for me, staging the food and getting good pictures isn’t as relaxing. But, I love the end result and I do love to share a good, easy recipe. This salad is colorful and perfect for summer.
Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (I use sea salt which is a little milder than table salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 beets, I used red beets, but you can use any variety
1. Scrub raw beets, trim off leaves, stems and ends of beet bulbs. Rub in a little olive oil and wrap in tin foil. I wrapped 3 beets together in two foil pouches.
2. Roast beets in oven at 375 degrees for approximately 45 minutes, check with a fork, fork should easily pierce the beets.
3. Let cool slightly, take a paper towel and rub skin of beet off. This is a great trick for easy peeling.
4. Slice into quarter inch rounds. Combine ingredients above to make a marinade/dressing. Soak beets for 3-4 hours in the marinade in the refrigerator.
5. Arrange beets on top of a bed of greens (I love arugula with the beet/goat cheese combo). Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle with some of the marinade. Add salt and pepper to taste.
We are hosting a summer party for my office this weekend, Hubby is going to smoke some ribs and I’ll be making salmon on a cedar plank, if I’m not too lazy, I’ll get some photos and share them on here. I also have a couple of sweet treats to share.
Tonight, Hubby and I went to an adoption information meeting at a local Bethany office. There were a few other couples at the meeting and another couple of individuals. Bethany Christian Services provides services for domestic infant adoption, international adoption, and a foster-to-adopt program. Many of the people there were most interested in the foster-to-adopt program, Hubby and I are interested in either domestic infant adoption or international adoption. The meeting was informative, but a little discouraging. Most domestic infant adoptions through their agency takes two years, an adoption from China takes six years. Yes, you read that correctly, SIX years! I would potentially be 40 by the time we could get a child from China. I know that the adoption process does take time, but hearing 2-6 years was much more time than I was expecting. Another part of tonight that tug at my heart was that a few of the people attending the meeting already have children (granted they were focusing on the foster-to-adopt program), but it made me think “I wish I was wanting to add to my already existing family and not figuring out how to create a family of three.” We may look into a couple of other agencies before we actually start paperwork with Bethany.
I still haven’t heard back about my endometrial biopsy results. I’m back on birth control and I’m spotting……my nurse said as long as it’s not a full flow, not to worry. I just hope I’m not spotting for the next three months, that doesn’t sound like fun at all. My body has no idea what normal is, considering what I’ve put it through, I guess I can’t expect normal.
hopefulandhungry 
I love beets!!! And 6 yrs for adoption from china sounds really long. I guess China is stricter now. And doesnt China have an age limit now as well? I really hope that your next IVF works and I know of someone who went thru surrogacy but I dont know if you have considered that
Yum, me too. Yes, much longer than we thought at first. We have definitely considered a gestational carrier, we wanted to start the adoption process (since it can be a lengthy process, as we found out even more so) while we continue to pursue our own treatments, etc.
Pinterest worthy! I don’t think I could force myself to eat a beet, but that sure does look tempting! BEAUTIFUL!
I hate that the meeting with Bethany didn’t go well!!! SIX YEARS!!!! Umm, that’s insane. Plus China doesn’t let you adopt until you’re 30… is that actually bring home the kid or start the process? If it’s bring home a kid, I think we need to start NOW! Geez! China has always been part of our plan, but the more I find out about it, the more I want to SCREAM!!! I have some friends from church who adopted a little girl from China… I’ll try to find out what agency they used and the details! Hang in there friend!!!!
It’s not that it didn’t go well, but just that the timelines were much more lengthy than we were anticipating. I think it was 6 years from home study to bringing a child home (I hope it’s the whole process!) China was definitely at the top of our list for adoption, but now it seems almost impossible. I would LOVE more information about the agency your friend used. Girls are supposedly even more difficult to adopt than boys. I will probably call Lifeline later this week to see what their timeframes are. Thank you so much for all of your helpful information!
(assvice ahead)
When we were thinking about adoption, we were told by my dad’s law firm partner, who is an adoption attorney, to tell EVERYONE you know that you want to adopt – that many referrals come through word of mouth. He said to specifically tell members of your church, doctors, and attorneys as they are the first calls that parents of pregnant girls make. So many people I’ve followed, and also know IRL, found their kids this way. Not saying it always works (of course not), but that sometimes it does. I would think you and your husband would be highly desirable adoptive parents!
Side note – when I first moved here, my dad called me in the middle of the night asking if I knew of anyone trying to adopt. His partner was called about a baby without adoptive patents lined up. You want people knowing about you if they ever get a similar call.
(end assvice)
You may have convinced me to try beats with that recipe!
Thank you, that is great advice. A lot of people know about our infertility, but since adoption is a relatively new part of our journey, not many people know. We need to spread the word! I have a lot of friends and family reading the blog, so I will post something on there as well. That is one call in the middle of the night that would actually be good news!
Yes, try the recipe, the marinade keeps the beets from tasting too “earthy”.
Wow that’s crazy that the adoption process is so lengthy! Who even knew, 6 years is really long to wait! Are there other countries where the wait time is less maybe?
I don’t really like beets, but that salad looks pretty good!
I just started an infertility blog if you’d like to check it out, http://theifjourney.blogspot.com/
Yes, there are other countries with shorter wait time. Thanks on the salad. I’ll check out your blog. 🙂
I think two years is a conservative estimate for domestic adoption. I know it can happen much faster than that. I know a couple of people who waited less than a year. A friend’s in-law’s had a good experience with this agency: http://www.adopthelp.com They are on our list of options for sure! Keep us posted on your research. xo
Glad to hear that it could be faster than 2 years. Thank you for the link, I’ll check it out. xoxo
wow! 6 years!?! I think it is good advice to get the word out. talk to lots of people. i think it’s great that you’ve started looking into this process!
that salad was delish! I could eat beets and goat cheese all day long! can’t wait to see the yummy sweet treats you have also been making!
Maybe I should tell S & J to bring me a baby next time they return. 🙂
They would! 😉
Have you heard about Adoption Guides International? I just started reading / researching.
http://adoptionguides.org/
We also have our first fertility clinic appointment next month.
No, I haven’t heard of that company. Thank you for the link. Which clinic are you going to? You can email me if you’d like. I’m here to help or answer any questions you might have, I’ve been through almost everything. xoxox
Overlake Reproductive Health! I will definitely email you! Not quite sure what to expect in our first appointment. Andre
nikki, that beet salad looked so beautiful. love mom. Anxious to see your new office.