I use the smaller, more tender leaves like spinach (beef/venison goes well with sauteed beet leaves as a side dish instead of spinach and they cook down like spinach does, so you use a lot). The stems and larger leaves I use when making borscht (beet soup). If they are not very tender, I use them for flavor in the meat stock and strain them out (or I just use my immersion blender to make a "creamier" borscht without the calories of sour cream).

Borscht freezes well, so we make a big pot and have it all winter. One of my favorites.

Dave

Roasted Beets with Horseradish Cream
Gourmet : November 1992
Yield: Serves 6
ingredients
• about 3 1/2 pounds beets including the greens
• 2/3 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
• 2 to 3 tablespoons finely grated peeled fresh horseradish or drained ;bottled
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
preparation
Cut the greens from the beets, leaving about 1 inch of the stems attached, and reserve the greens. Scrub the beets, wrap them tightly in 2 foil packages, and roast them on a baking sheet in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until they are tender. Unwrap the beets carefully, discarding any liquid that may have accumulated in the foil, and let them cool until they can be handled. Peel and halve the beets and cut them into 1/4-inch slices.
In a small bowl stir together the crème fraîche, the horseradish to taste, the zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Wash well and drain the reserved greens, in a large skillet cook them with salt and pepper to taste in 1 tablespoon of the butter over moderately high heat, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they are wilted, and transfer them to a platter. In the skillet cook the beets with salt and pepper to taste in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they are hot, and spoon them over the greens. Top the beets with the horseradish cream and sprinkle the cream with the chives and salt and pepper to taste

Both the above recipes also contain onion and garlic, and any herbs you see fit to add. (mushrooms can be a good addition to either one, too.)

Do these really need blanching?

Deborah

Dave