Mini Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon Bites: Color and Whimsy All in One Bite

Looking for healthy cooking inspiration?  Check out this website filled with tasty recipes from Tamara Duker Freuman, MS, RD, CDN, who runs an NYC-based clinical practice specializing in digestive disorders, Celiac disease and food intolerances.  We particularly love the Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon Bites and their fun little shapes!  They are a great way to add some color and whimsy to any meal.

Recipe: Mini Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleons

Ingredients:

• Beets (golden or red, or a combination thereof)
• Soft goat cheese (chevre); herbed would work nicely, too.
• Cookie cutters
• To garnish: sea salt, olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar 

Directions:

1. Prepare beet(s) as follows (can be done the night before):
1. Trim off attached greens and place in a pot of water deep enough to submerge beet.  Bring to a boil, cover, and cook for one hour or until beet can be pierced all the way through with a fork.
2. When beet(s) are done cooking, drain the cooking water.  Holding hot beet under cold running water, use a metal spoon to gently scrape off the outer skin.  (Or, to get kids involved, let beet cool down and have children scrape off the skin over a bowl.)
3. Let beet(s) cool before using.  Or, refrigerate overnight if making in advance.
2. Slice beet(s) into layers of even thickness
3. Scoop a dollop of soft goat cheese onto one slice, and using hands, press it down so that it covers the layer evenly, to desired thickness  (Kids can do this step)
4. Cover the goat cheese with another slice. (Kids can do this step)
5. Using cookie cutter(s), press down to create desired shapes.  (Kids can do this step).
6. Cut away surrounding scraps using a paring knife.
7. Repeat steps above until desired quantities are made.
8. Garnish napoleons with salt, olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar. (Kids can do this step).