Purple Rain

For all it's magic health giving properties, the humble beetroot don't arf give you a scare sometimes. One minute, there you are, scarfing a couple of juicy, purple balls of vinegary joy from the plate, happy in the knowledge that you are plowing a rich vein of vitamins and antioxidants into your system. And the next, you're lying prone on a stretcher, racing to A&E in a blaring ambulance because you've visited the bathroom, swooned at the sight of a resultant skid mark and cracked your head on the sink. I am sorry to get all scatalogical on you but when talking about beetroot, these matters must be addressed. And why is it always a surprise anyway? What is it about the human psyche that makes us forget in that first initial instance? I dunno, it's all a mystery to me. I am still trying to work out why asparagus (and Sugar Puffs) makes my wee wee smell funny.

But these are questions that I suspect the folks from lovebeetroot.co.uk would like to avoid for the time being. Having sent me a batch of beetroot to sample, I suspect that they wanted me to come up with a fan dabbi dozy recipe to promote this delicious veg. To work say, into a cake or a soup or a dip or something. I can highly recommend Silvena Rowe's Beetroot Falafel recipe from her book, Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume. It's a bloody gorgeous method for using up beets. However, I've used the lot making my new favourite lunchtime snack, corned beef, salad cream and beetroot sandwiches and if you haven't tried them, then I suggest you do. Satisfyingly cheap and dirty, combining lush sweet, sour and salty flavours, this sandwich currently reigns supreme in my household. The twins can't get enough of them either. Although after wolfing them down they are probably wondering why Daddy keeps getting them to repeat "why so serious?" for the video camera.

As for potty time, well they never bat an eyelid.

Corned Beef, Salad Cream and Beetroot Sandwich

Take some bread, some corned beef (cheap stuff is fine, I wouldn't bother with the quality stuff which is far too salty in my opinion), some salad cream and some sliced beetroot. Make a sandwich with all the ingredients, it's not rocket science.

I never meant cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain........

Corned Beef, Salad Cream and Beetroot Sandwich