3 Uses for One Bunch of Beets

3 Uses for Your Beets, originally uploaded by HiMalta.

Today we got beets in our share. I cut them up into their three parts; the beets, the greens, and the stems.

• The beets I'll roast and then cook into something.
• The greens I'll blanch and freeze for winter use in a lasagna
• The stems I boiled in water, strain out and use the dyed water to make a natural dye for my kids Play-Doh.

Disney's Family Fun magazine had a recipe for make your own dough that uses natural coloring to color the Play-Doh-like mixture, something I have been looking for for a long time.

Here is the Play-Doh recipe:
1 cup flour
3/8 cup salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Natural Dye

Natural Play-Doh Color Options:
Brown - 3/8 plus one tablespoon hot water and 4 tablespoons cocoa powder.
Fuchsia - 3/8 cup beet juice
Orange - 3/8 cup how water and 1 tablespoon paprika
Yellow - 3/8 cup water and 1 tablespoon turmeric