SC - Swiss Chard

[Uduido at aol.com]

In a message dated 97-06-05 20:59:37 EDT, you write:

<< I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me what relationship 
 bleta might have to Swiss Chard.   >>

Since beets with bottoms are not period, I always use Swiss Chard when Betas
are called for in a period recipe. Some folks use spinach but the taste is
somewhat different although the recipe is still tsty if spinach is used; and,
spinach is not a beet. Curiously , in the current Middle Ages, the scientific
name for bulbous beets and swiss chard are exactly the same. Most period
recipes using the beet when it is readily identitified as the leaves
reccommend crushing the stalk to make it more esily cooked and/or digested.

Lord Ras (uduido at aol.com)