There is a new batch of produce in the house! It was starting to look a bit bleak…

I do pretty much weekly shopping and then figure out what I’m going to cook based upon what’s in the house. I have never been able to plan menus for the week because I’m never sure on Monday what I’m going to feel like eating on Thursday, and I don’t know what’s new or fresh or coming into our out of season until I’m at the store. I know that some folks really do need to be more organized and actually plan things, but this is a system that works for me…

One thing that looked really good was a bin of fresh golden beets – individuals, not the normal bunches with greens. I picked up one – the size of a softball – and figured it would be more than enough for the two of us. Another thing I constantly work on is remembering that there are only two of us eating this stuff and there are only so many meals in a week. Walking through a produce store is like being a kid in a candy factory. There are just too many things to make – and only so many meals in a week…

Restraint has never been one of my more dominant attributes – but I’m working on it.

Armed with my golden beet – and a cart-full of other goodies – I headed home.

I knew that steaks were on the menu tonight, so I thought roasted beets would be the perfect accompaniment. And after peeling and cubing the beet, I drizzled it with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and put it into the oven – covered. While it was cooking, I glanced over at the pears I had bought and thought that pears and beets sounded like a good combination. I pulled the beets out, sliced and cubed a pear, mixed them with the half-cooked beets, drizzled everything with Calvados – because, why not?!? – recovered the dish and back into the oven they went.

Ya know what?!? Red pears and golden beets go really well together – especially doused in Calvados!

I liberally doused the steaks with Penzey’s Mitchell Street Steak Seasoning and started them in a cast iron skillet on the stove and then finished them in the oven, since it was already on cooking the beets and pears.

The end result was an excellent – and really simple – meal.