Popeye's Favorite Sammy

I recently had a conversation with one of my vegetarian friends about the beneficial bioavailability of iron in beets and it got me thinking. Why didn't Popeye gulp cans full of beets as well as spinach? The truth is, he probably did. He just did it off camera.

In honor of my favorite buff sailor's iron fetish, I invented this iron intensive treat. A meal that will make your muscles bulge and your head do that weird exorcist twisty thing. Okay, maybe not. But it does taste super good. :)


Popeye's Favorite Sammy
(1 serving)

1 healthy bun or spinach tortilla
2 spoonfuls delish beetslaw
5 grape tomatoes
handful fresh baby spinach
1 large spoonful fresh ranch dressing

Fresh Ranch Dressing
(This recipe is one I modified from Cooking Light and use regularly. Makes 1 cup.)

3/4 cup low fat buttermilk
1/4 cup low fat sour cream
1 tsp fresh dill, minced
1 tsp fresh basil, minced
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced

Mix these ingredients into a bowl and stir well. For a lumpless consistency, throw them in the food processor. I like to make maybe 2-3 times this recipe and keep it in the fridge for salads, etc.

Delish Beetslaw
(~14 servings)

4 beets, cleaned, skinned, and quartered
2 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 large spoonful organic, raw honey
1 cup water
5 cloves garlic
3-4 inches ginger
ground sea salt, to taste
1 package shredded cabbage from TJ's

Add the water, beets, ginger, and garlic to the food processor and chop fine. Remove to a large side bowl. Next add the carrots, celery, honey, and salt to the food processor. Chop fine again. Add to the large side bowl. Stir all together, add the cabbage, and mix well, making sure the cabbage is well coated in the beet juice. You'll know because all that green is going to turn purple from the beet juice. :) Put the bowl in the fridge to chill. You can eat this plain, as a slaw or salad base. Or you can use it as a ;ettuce substitute in sandwiches, like Popeye's Favorite Sammy above. :)