I think beets generally are delicious and easy to cook with, although you do have to watch out for the staining. I've cheated a few times lately in making a beet/goat cheese/grapefruit type salad by using these very nice vacuum packed baby beets in the refrigerated section of Trader Joe's...they are from Melissa's, I think, and last a long time in the frig before opening. Great in salads of all type. And I agree, borscht is exceedingly yummy.