Beet

An overnight pickling tames the red onions.

We like making our own pickled beets with spices and herbs that give these sandwiches a true Scandinavian flavor. You can, however, use bottled pickled beets if you don't have two days for marinating.

Here is a beautiful and inventive salad that combines hearty beets, sweet-tart plums and tangy goat cheese.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr

Though fresh horseradish is in season around Easter, you can substitute drained bottled horseradish. We recommend using the cooked beets left over from the pickled quail egg recipe , but if you're not making the eggs, you can substitute canned beets.

When you're ready to slice these eggs, be sure to wipe your knife clean between every cut or you'll get the pink pickling liquid smeared on the yolk.

This simple side dish is even easier to prepare if you roast the beets the day before you plan to serve them.

If you can't get sorrel at your local market, arugula leaves or large basil leaves are a good alternative.

The wine glaze both balances the natural sweetness of the beets and intensifies the savory beet flavor. In Tuscany, this is a favorite side dish for game and fowl.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

"My daughter and son-in-law spend their summers on Stuart Island, one of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington," says Ann Ayres of Santa Barbara, California. "On my way back from a visit, I planned to stop in Victoria, British Columbia. My daughter suggested that I try Paprika Bistro. The beet soup I ordered there was delicious."

The contrasting colors of these two beets are especially attractive in this dish but you may substitute any others.

To make this borscht into a full meal, serve the butter-braised oysters as a starter, or vice versa.

The roasted acorn squash tastes fabulous when scooped up with spoonfuls of the beet soup. But if oven space is limited, simply serve the soup in bowls.

Root vegetables have always been popular in Scandinavia because they store well during the long winter months and are therefore available year-round.