Beets Constantine
1 bunch beets
olive oil
red wine vinegar
garlic salt
fresh ground pepper
Trim and peel beets and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Chop the beet greens and stems into 1-inch pieces and rinse thoroughly. Place the sliced beets in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring the beets to a gentle boil, covered, and simmer them until they are nearly tender. Add the beet greens and stems and cover. It's just fine if the greens are still damp from washing, the water will help them cook evenly. The layer of beets below acts as a sort of natural colander, steaming the greens. When the greens have wilted and stems and beets are tender, drain off all of the water. Put in a bowl and sprinkle garlic salt and fresh pepper to taste. Drizzle liberally with good olive oil and red wine vinegar while the beets are still hot.
The dish can be served warm or room temperature, makes great leftovers, and is a lovely accompaniment to any summer salad.