Beets. Some of you will understand, others of you will not.

Dug up from their premature graves, they leave bloody stains on cutting boards and counter tops, ooze red juices into your sink as you peel them. But once roasted or boiled, they become sweet and innocent.

Too sweet, some would say — counter that with onion, beef broth, and salt, and beets become the perfect foundation for a savory soup. In my mind, I dubbed this "skin soup" as I was inventing it. Beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, bone broth — all things good for the digestion and good for the skin, according to the Internet.

And because I am born of a people who freeze milk rather than let it go to waste, I pulverized the discarded beet greens along with olive oil, lemon, toasted sunflower seeds, and nutritional yeast into a dairy-free pesto. Yolo.

Beet, Beef & Sweet Potato Soup

4 beef short ribs
1 yellow onion
1 tbsp olive oil
3 medium beets, greens removed, peeled, and chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
3 cups beef stock
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp ginger

Brown short ribs in a pan over medium heat. Remove and set aside. In the pan with the beef drippings, add 2 tbsp olive oil. Cook onions in pan over medium heat until translucent, then add the vegetables. Cook for roughly 8 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add short ribs back to the pan, along with the stock and spices. Stir to combine and bring to boil. Lower to medium-low heat and simmer for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, remove the short ribs and bones from the pan. Separate the bones and toss them out. With a knife and fork, shred the beef and add it back to the pan. Simmer for another 10 minutes before serving.

Top with beet green pesto (below) and fresh dill.

Beet Green Pesto

3 cups beet greens, center vein removed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds
1 tsp table salt
1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes (or parmesan)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Combine first three ingredients in a blender or food processor until a paste is formed. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.