As we long to crawl our way out of the winter months, let's take a moment to stop, wallow a bit (in the best sense of the word) and appreciate one great comfort to come from the ground this chilly time of year: Root vegetables. Hardy and versatile, flavorful and unique, root veggies hold up to all kinds of cooking and can be done both simply or exquisitely. And the blogosphere is rife with creative expressions of the humble root vegetable. Here are just a few ways to get rooted this Meatless Monday. 

Start off with a fancy but easy salad from The First Mess inspired from the momofuku restaurant group, with an awesome vegan twist of course: Beet, Potato and Avocado Salad with Horseradish and Shallot Vinaigrette. 

Pair that with one of the most stunning beet soups we've ever seen from Will Cook for Friends, and you'll have definitely gotten your beet fix. Add their Curried Ginger Rice for a full-on satisfying meal. 

Bland carrotsticks give this diet-friendly food an underappreciated name. Organic, heirloom carrots that are roasted to perfection as they illustrate over at My Life Love Food with a mouthwatering recipe for Flaxseed Roasted Carrots will seriously up your carrot game.  

And, we didn't forget about dessert. YumSugar has us hooked on their Moist Chocolate-Beet Cake. Take that Red Velvet!

image: My Life Love Food