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History Wild Carrot Today Nutrition Cultivation Recipes Trivia Links Home Contact |
Cooking Advice & Recipes
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| Origins of carrot cake |
See also the A to Z listing for a recipe for each letter of the alphabet. Click here.
Burger - Pizza - Bread - Hotdog - Spread - pickle - muffins - ALL made with carrots. Here
Ten reasons why you should eat more vegetables. Click here. Carrot Baby Food Recipes - here
A carrot cocktail!! - here - Carrot Balls! - here - Marzipan Carrots (pdf download)
People seem to have difficulty microwaving carrots, click here to see how we do it.
Are Carrots better cooked or raw? Great Chantenay recipes here. Try some great British Carrots Recipes here.
Microwaving retains more
goodness - read more - Muffins -
Wine - here Candied Carrots here
Home recipes for face/body products -
read more Read more about the tastes of carrots. (pdf) A 10th Century Cookbook - Annals of the Caliphs’ Kitchens
- Al Warraq are on a
separate page. History of Carrot Cake here; . Ancient Carrot Puddings are here.
Carrot Lemonade here.
Carrots
are grown all over the world and are readily available in all seasons. They
vary in colour from orange, purple, black, pinkish, red, yellow and white.
Recipes including carrots are of course nothing
new and well known and used by the ancients. Some written versions do remain in
the archives of the world and some are repeated in the
history pages - here.
These include: Lombardo Compost, Carrot Puree, pickled carrots, cariota,
Jazariyyah (14thC); 16thC here
including puddings, carrot salad and carrot sauce.
This delicious
vegetable is within the reach of rich & poor alike and is rightly called
the "universal root". The carrot root is the main edible part and can be
eaten raw, drunk as a juice, used in every conceivable salad, cooked as a
vegetable, made into jam, marmalade, syrup & sweet dishes. You
can also eat the greens tops. Read more here.
The Carrot is a very versatile vegetable and can be used in a myriad of savoury
and sweet dishes, mostly very healthy eating and good alternatives to stodge.
It can be used as a starter, main course, sweet or just as a snack. Carrots
may be eaten raw or cooked in almost any manner imaginable.
Carrots help to maintain acidic & alkaline
properties in the system it is an invigorating & energizing tonic for
eyes, skin, bones, heart & muscles of the body. Carrot is blood purifier,
diuretic, carminative, digestive, anti flatulent, anti pyretic and vermifuge.
Check out the nutrition page for full details.
Carrots can be eaten sliced, diced, cut up or shoe stringed. They are sold
in bunches, canned, frozen and dehydrated. They may be baked, sautéed, pickled,
glazed and served in combination with meats, stews, roasts, soups meat loaf
or curries. The mineral contents in carrots lie very close to the skin. Hence
they should not be peeled or scraped off.
Dried roasted carrot roots can be ground into a powder and used as coffee
substitute. Carrot syrup is sometimes employed as a sweetening agent. Alcoholic
tincture of carrot seed
is incorporated in French liqueurs. Carrot oil is used for flavouring and
in perfumery. Considerable honey is manufactured from bees visiting carrot,
although the quality is poor. The flower clusters can be french-fried to
produce a carrot-flavoured gourmet's delight. The aromatic seed is used as
a flavouring in stews etc.
VERSATILITY OF CARROTS – are one of the most versatile Vegetables in the
World Good in savoury or sweet dishes, raw or cooked, carrots are extremely
versatile and while they're delicious lightly boiled and served with butter and
seasoning, there's no need to stop there! Simply wash in cold water and they are
ready to eat or cook with. No need to peel or top and tail. Raw Carrots can be eaten just as they are and are particularly popular
with children because of their sweet crunchiness and small size. They can be
served halved or whole as crudités with other vegetables and a dip. Juice Naturally sweet Carrots make delicious juice. Bear in mind that
to make enough juice for one you'll need around 5 large carrots. Try juicing
Carrots with ginger and/or apple or orange to make a delicious and nutritious
drink. Boiled Cover thickly sliced Carrots in boiling water and add a pinch
of salt if you like. Simmer for five minutes or until they are just tender which
you can test with the point of a sharp knife. Serve with melted butter, chopped
parsley and season to taste Steamed Steaming is more gentle than boiling and allows the Carrots to
keep their colour, flavour and texture. Place sliced Carrots in a steamer over a
pan of simmering water and put the lid on. Steam for five minutes or until the
carrots are tender. Try serving with toasted sesame seeds or pine nuts. Roasted Toss chunky chopped Carrots in olive oil, sea salt and black
pepper and herbs or spices to taste. Try cumin or chopped thyme and experiment
to create your own favourites. Arrange the carrots in a single layer in a
roasting tin and place in the oven at 190c 375f for 20-30 minutes or until the
carrots are tender, slightly browned and caramelised. Baked Wrap 3 inch strips of whole carrots in foil with a couple of
tablespoons of wine, a knob of butter, a handful of fresh, chopped herbs and a
pinch of salt, leaving them plenty of room to move. Put the parcel on a baking
tray and bake for 40 minutes at 220c 425f. Drain the liquid off and sprinkle
with chopped parsley to serve. Stir fried Cut Carrots lengthwise into halves or quarters and cut your
other vegetables to similar sizes. Try spring onions, peppers and courgettes.
Heat a small amount of oil in a wok over a high heat, add the vegetables and
cook for a short time, stirring periodically, but not constantly. Add grated
ginger, chopped garlic, chopped chillies and coriander to taste. Finish with a
splash of soy sauce, a squeeze of lime and a drizzle of sesame oil. In salad Carrots work well in salads either sliced or grated, and can
be included either raw, roasted or blanched. Try a fresh dressing of lemon,
olive oil and chopped shallots to contrast the sweetness of the Carrots. Microwaved Place sliced Carrots in a microwaveable dish with a couple
of tablespoons of water. Cover with cling film, pierce and microwave for five
minutes or until they are just tender Chargrilled Slice Carrots lengthwise into 5mm thick slices. Blanch
briefly in boiling water (bring to the boil, simmer for a minute or so and
plunge into cold water). Drain the carrot slices, toss in a little olive oil and
seasoning and place on a hot, ridged griddle pan until they are marked on one
side then turn and repeat.
Selection - Bigger is not better when it comes to carrots so select
carrots that are less than 8 inches long and relatively uniform in shape and
size. They should be well shaped, firm, and smooth with no cracks.
Purchase carrots with a smooth and firm surface.
They should not look wilted. If buying carrots with their greenery, make sure the leaves are moist and
bright green; the carrots should be bright, firm and smooth. The deeper the
colour, the more beta-carotene contained in the carrot.
The bright green tops don't guarantee a fresher carrot; however, it is widely
assumed that they are fresher than the carrots sold in plastic bags. Remove carrot greenery
as soon as possible because it robs the roots of moisture and vitamins. Avoid
those which are dry with cracks or any that have begun to soften and wither.
The best carrots are young and slender. Carrots should feel heavy, not bend
at all and when grated should be quite juicy. The more orange they look,
the more beta-carotene they contain.
Tiny baby carrots are very tender and sweeter
but, because of their lack of maturity, not as flavourful as their full-grown
siblings. Store carrots in a plastic bag in the refrigerator's vegetable
bin. Avoid storing them near fruit, particularly apples and pears, which emit ethylene
gas as they ripen that can give carrots a bitter taste and decrease the storage
life of carrots and other vegetables. Also keep away from peaches.
A light
If carrots have become limp or dehydrated, re-crisp them in a bowl of ice water
for about half an hour. Firm up limp carrots by cutting off one of the ends and
sticking the carrots in ice water, cut side down. The coarse core of older
carrots should be removed.
Before storing carrots, remove their green tops, rinse, drain, and put the
carrots in plastic bags and store them in the coldest part of the refrigerator
with the highest humidity. They'll last several months this way. To keep the
carrots crisp and colourful add a little bit of water in the bottom of the
plastic storage bag; this will keep the carrots hydrated. Carrots should be
stored away from fruits such as apples and pears, which release the ethylene gas
that cause carrots to become bitter.
Read more
here (pdf)
Recipes -
Here are some of the most usual and unusual
recipes!
Click on the recipe to see the full detail.
Excellent
Carrot Cake here. (includes video)
If these are not enough try the A to Z
of recipes. Click here.
When buying them, look for vibrantly coloured bunches of firm, well-shaped
carrots with bright-green tops. If the tops are shrivelled, then you know
the carrots are old. Of course, carrots are often sold with the tops removed.
To judge the freshness in this case, inspect the stem end for darkening,
a sure sign it's been around awhile. Whether loose or in plastic bags, avoid
carrots with green shoots sprouting out (not to be confused with their green
tops) yellowed tips, soft spots or withering. All are a sign of age. Also avoid
carrots with large green areas at or near their tops. This indicates sunburn
damage on the vegetable. Carrots which an excessive amount of new sprouts or
leaves could have large or woody cores.
rinsing is all that's necessary for young carrots and tiny baby carrots;
older carrots can be peeled if necessary but remember much of the goodness is in
the skin.
Try these late arrivals:
CARROT PIZZA - serves 2 
(followed
by Carrot Burgers, Bread and Spread)
2 whole wheat pitas, 2 carrots, shredded, 1cup muenster cheese, garlic powder,
oregano and black
pepper.
Preheat toaster oven to 300 F. Distribute carrots evenly on the concave side
of whole pita. Distribute cheese on top of carrots. Top with loads of garlic
powder, a dash of oregano and pepper. Bake in toaster oven about 15 min.
Serve and eat.
Polish Carrot Pancakes - Karotenki
1/2 kg carrots
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
a pinch of salt
cinnamon, icing sugar
1. Grate raw peeled carrots very fine
2. Whisk eggs with salt, sieve flour mixed with baking powder. It should be
ready to fry but if you find it too loose, add a bit more flour. Fry, sprinkle
with cinnamon and icing sugar.
Tart pineapple, fresh coconut, and crunchy walnuts define this carrot cheese cake recipe.
Make this cake in a square pan for a crowd, or in a round one for a more elegant presentation. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you’re pulling out all the stops. Carrot Cheese Cake Recipe, carrots and cheese! What else do you want?
Ingredients
16 ounces (500 g) cream cheese, room temperature; 3/4 cup (175 mL) sugar; 2 1/2 teaspoons (12.5 ml);vanilla extract;1 tablespoon (15 mL) flour; 3 eggs
Carrot Cake
3/4 cup (175 mL) sunflower oil; 1 cup (250 mL) sugar; 2 eggs; 1 1/2 teaspoon (7.5 mL) vanilla extract; 1 cup (250 mL) flour; 1 teaspoon (5 mL) baking soda; 1 1/2 teaspoon (7.5 mL) ground cinnamon; 1 cup (250 mL) grated carrots
1/2 cup (125 mL) fresh grated coconut; 1 cup (250 mL) fresh chopped pineapple; 1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped walnuts
Directions
Cheesecake
Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add flour and eggs, beating continually, until thoroughly combined.
Carrot Cake Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and butter a baking dish. In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another bowl combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Combine wet ingredients and dry ingredients and add carrots, coconut, pineapple, and walnuts. Stir to blend.
Spread carrot cake batter over bottom of prepared baking pan. Drop cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter by spoonfuls. Bake for 1 hour. Cool before frosting.
Another Recipe: Carrot Cheesecake
Ingredients:
1 pkg 2 layer size carrot cake mix;1 cup water;1/2 cup cooking oil;3 eggs;1/2 cup raisins
3 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened;1-1/2 cups sugar;
2 teaspoons vanilla;3 eggs
2 Tablespoons powdered sugar;1 Tablespoon water;1 teaspoon ground cinnamon;1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts;1 cup powdered sugar;
3-4 teaspoons milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour 10 inch springform pan;set aside. In large
bowl combine carrot cake mix, 1 cup water, oil and 3 eggs. Beat with electric
mixer on low 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed
for 3 minutes. Fold in raisins. Pour into pan.
In another large bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed
until smooth. Beat in granulated sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in
remaining 3 eggs just until well combined. Slowly pour over carrot cake layer.
Place cheesecake on baking sheet
Bake 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours or until center is set. Top will be uneven and center
may fall slightly as it cools. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Using
small sharp knife, loosen the cake from the sides of the pan. Cool 30 minutes.
Remove sides of pan; Cool completely and refrigerate at least 4 hours before
serving.
Preheat oven to 325. Line small baking pan with foil. Lightly coat foil with
cooking spray. In small bowl combine 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon
water and cinnamon. Stir in walnuts. Spread nuts over even layer in prepared
baking pan. Bake 8 minutes or until nuts are lightly toasted, stirring once.
Cool.
In medium bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar and enough milk to make it drizzling
consistency. Cut cheesecake into wedges and place each wedge on serving plate.
Drizzle each serving with some of the powdered sugar icing. Break up walnuts and
place atop cheesecake wedges. Makes 16 servings.
Another Carrot Cake -
Ingredients:
300g plain flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
200g soft brown sugar
3 eggs
250ml oil
1 orange , zested
1 lemon , zested
(If you haven't got these, 1 tbsp of lemon/orange juice is fine)
200g carrots , finely grated
150g walnuts , chopped (optional, or sprinkle on top of frosting)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
50g unsalted butter at room temperature
450g icing sugar
100g cream cheese
1 cap vanilla flavouring
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
1 tbsp water from kettle
For the cake:
1) Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 20cm, 10cm deep cake tin.
2) Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together
and stir in the sugar.
3) Beat the eggs with the oil and citrus zests. Stir in the carrots.
4) Fold everything into the flour mixture. Then fold in the walnuts.
5) Spoon the mixture into the tin. Alternatively, spoon into bun cases for
buns.
6) Bake for 1 hour (30 minutes for buns) or until a skewer comes out clean.
Cool.
For the frosting:
1) Whip the butter with electric beaters or a whisk.
2) Add vanilla, water and lemon juice (if using).
3) Add cream cheese and whip again until smooth.
4) Add half the icing sugar and stir in with spoon.
5) Add other half and stir in with spoon. Then beat with beaters or whisk
until light and fluffy, the consistency of soft ice cream.
6) Spread or pipe onto cake as desired.
Carrot Burgers
Ingredients (18 servings)
10 Carrots, peeled and cut into chunks; 2 tablespoons Oil; 3 Garlic cloves,
minced; 3 Onions, cut into chunks; 2 Celery stalks, diced; 2 Green peppers,
diced; 5 tablespoons Tamari; 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon Basil;
1/2 ts Paprika; 1/2 ts Oregano;
1/2 ts Parsley; 1/2 c Tahini; 3 tb Peanut butter; 2 tb Cashew butter (opt);
1/2 c Wheat germ, bran or flour (opt)
Method
Place the carrots in a medium-sized saucepan containing 3 or 4 inches of
water; steam over medium heat for 15 minutes, till soft. Drain and mash well
using a potato masher.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat; add the diced garlic,
onions, celery, and peppers; sauté for 7 minutes. Add the tamari,
basil, garlic powder, parsley, and oregano; sauté for 2 minutes more,
until vegetables are soft. In a large bowl, combine the carrots, sautéed
vegetables, tahini and peanut butter. Season to taste. If the batter is too
wet, add the wheat germ to make it hold together.
Preheat oven to 350. Form the mixture into patties, and place on an oiled
cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden on top. Turn and bake
on the other side until golden brown.
Make marzipan carrots here - pdf download.
Carrot Ice Cream with Pistachios.
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup green pistachios
2 cups carrot juice
2 cups sugar
one table spoon flour
Combine the milk and sugar and set to boil in a deep pan. Ladle half a cup of the milk into a cup while not yet warm, and dissolve the flour in it. Add the dissolved flour mixture to the pan. The flour will thicken the milk and is a good substitute for eggs. (Eggs in ice cream raise the problems of salmonella from undercooking and an eggy smell. Furthermore, some people don't eat eggs. So, flour is a great substitute. Cornflour may be used, but I find that regular flour works better.) Stir the milk a few times with a spoon. Chop the pistachios and add to the milk. While chopping, some pieces may crumble to a powder. That is good. The powdered nuts will only make the ice cream thicker. Add the heavy cream and boil some more. Over all, the milk should be boiled for about 35 minutes. Switch off the flame. Allow milk mixture to cool. Add cold carrot juice and place the entire mixture in the refrigerator to cool.
After it is cooled, pour into the ice cream container and make ice cream as per instructions of your ice cream machine. When ice cream is ready, spoon into a plastic tub and place in freezer for about 15 minutes to firm up some more. Serve scoops in bowls, garnished with additional pistachios if you wish.
Optional ingredients: The ice cream can be made more interesting by adding half a tea spoon of saffron strands to the milk mixture at the same time that you add the chopped pistachios. Also, by adding powdered cardomom powder to the milk at the beginning of the recipe. Golden raisins are also optional--may be added into the ice cream machine, or boiled in the milk, depending on your preference.
Now that summer is around the corner, this is a great time to try out this recipe. The carrot juice and milk are very healthy--for children and seniors in particular. Carrots are indeed a dessert food, as fans of carrot cake know well. The creamy orange colour of this dessert is most attractive.
Another -
Dairy Free Ice Cream
(can use dairy too! - needs ice cream maker)
2 cups 100% carrot juice, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon salt (optional), 8 ounces Galaxy Classic Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative (or dairy cream cheese like "phliadelphia), 8 ounces plain dairy-free (or ordinary yoghurt)
1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Process or blend until smooth. 2. Chill in a glass container in the refrigerator for two hours. 3. Carefully pour into prepared ice cream maker and freeze according to its directions. 4. Eat as soft serve, or place in a glass container and freeze until firm. 5. Remove from freezer and let soften a few minutes before serving. (The hands on time for this recipe is less than 10 minutes, but the total time includes churning and chilling.)
Tri-Coloured Carrot Ice Cream (needs ice cream maker)
For the carrot base:
1 1/2 cups tri-coloured carrots (yellow, orange and purple) grated; 1 tablespoon butter;1 cup whole milk;1/2 teaspoon cardamom; Pinch of saffron;2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
In a saucepan, saute carrots in butter until soft. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain out the carrot bits, and press through a sieve to remove all the liquid.
1 cup cream;1 cup half and half; 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk;1/4 cup sugar
Carrot and Orange Ice Cream (needs ice cream maker)
Ingredients
2 cups carrot slices; 2 cups half-and-half; 2 cups heavy cream; 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise; 2 wide strips orange rind; 1 cinnamon stick; 9 egg yolks; 3/4 cup sugar
Method
In small saucepan, boil carrot slices in water until very tender. Drain, then
make puree and reserve. In saucepan over medium heat, whisk together
half-and-half, cream, vanilla, orange rind and cinnamon stick, stirring to make
sure mixture doesn't burn or stick to bottom of pan. When cream mixture reaches
a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off heat and let flavours infuse 10
minutes.
Whisk egg yolks and sugar together. In thin stream, whisk half of cream mixture
into egg yolk mixture. Then pour egg-cream mixture back into saucepan containing
rest of cream mixture. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden
spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When mixture
reaches 180 degrees it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you do not
have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture.
Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the
mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough. When
it is ready, quickly remove from heat.
Meanwhile, in a bowl put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in bottom, and add cold water
to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Combine the carrot puree with
the custard, mixing well. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve (to remove
vanilla bean pieces, orange rind and cinnamon sticks) into smaller bowl. Chill 3
hours, then continue according to ice-cream maker directions.
Carrot Bread
Ingredients
1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup shortening; 1 1/2 cups flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder;
1/2 teaspoon allspice; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon
cinnamon; 2 eggs; 1 cup finely grated carrots; 1/2 cup raisins
Method
Cream together sugar and shortening. Sift together dry ingredients in a separate
bowl. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Add eggs, one at a time. Add
grated carrots and raisins. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan (9 1/4
x 5 1/4 x 2 3/4).
Bake for 55 minutes at 375F.
Yield: one loaf -- 18 1/2-inch slices
Another Carrot Bread:
Carrot Bread (recipe from Cooking Light)
¾ cup sliced carrot
1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup sugar
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup vanilla fat-free yogurt
1 large egg
1 large egg white
cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350º.
Cook carrot in boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender; drain. Place carrot
in food processor and process until smooth.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups. Combine whole-wheat flour,
cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, ginger and cloves in a large bowl.
Combine carrot, sugar, oil, yogurt, egg and egg white in a small bowl, stirring
with a whisk. Add carrot mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
Pour batter into an 8” loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350º for 50
minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in
pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire
rack.
Carrot Spread
Ingredients:
1(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
; 4 small carrots, grated; 1 cup ground pecans; 1 tablespoon
finely chopped onion ; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; salt and pepper to taste.
Directions:
In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese, carrots, pecans, onion, and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and refrigerate until serving. Serves 16, on a piece of bread or cracker.
Second Carrot Spread
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:55 min makes:20 servings (2 tablespoons spread and 3 slices
bread each)
2 lb ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots 1 large dark-orange sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 medium onion, cut into 8 wedges, separated 3 tablespoons olive, canola or soybean oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 loaves (10 oz each) French baguette bread, each cut into 30 slices
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Place
carrots, sweet potato and onion in pan. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with thyme,
garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to coat.
2. Roast uncovered 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are
tender.
3. In food processor, place vegetable mixture. Cover; process until blended.
Spoon into serving bowl. Serve warm, or cover and refrigerate until serving.
Serve with baguette slices.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Total Fat 3g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Sodium 290mg; Total Carbohydrate 21g (Dietary Fibre 2g) % Daily Value*: Calcium 4%; Iron 6%
Carrot Chips (crisps in uk)
Carrot chips are a new and improved version of potato chips. The concept is the
same: the root vegetable is washed, sliced, and fried or baked until it is
crisp. It can be salted or seasoned much like a potato chip can. Carrot chips,
in fact, look much like deep orange potato chips.
Unlike potato chips, however, carrot chips are rich in Vitamin A, an essential
part of a healthy diet. Fried carrot chips, like potato chips, can contain a
large amount of fat. However, there are many health-food companies that offer
baked carrot chips that contain all of the great vitamins, but a nominal amount
of fat.
With health consciousness on the rise, people are always looking for better ways
to eat. Snacking, it has been found, is a big reason why people gain weight;
weight gain, of course, can lead to all kinds of circulatory and skeletal
problems and can result in obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, many snack foods
such as potato chips are full of fat and calories, but offer little nutrition.
Therefore, choosing healthy snack foods like baked carrot chips can be very
important to one’s health.
Interested in making your own baked carrot chips for a healthy snack? Here’s a
great recipe:
1. Spray a baking sheet with a light coat of oil.
2. Slice your desired number of carrots into rounds that are 1/4 inch (2.54 cm)
thick.
3. Place the slices on the baking sheet without overlapping them.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Place the baking sheet in an oven, preheated in 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177
degrees Celsius).
6. Bake the carrot chips for approximately five minutes, or until the edges turn
brown.
7. Turn the chips and back for another 5-10 minutes.
8. Enjoy!
Carrot chips may, in fact, become a very important food in some developing
countries University of Nebraska Scientists Ahmad Sulaeman and Judy Driskell
have been working with carrot chip recipes. They believe that carrot chips might
help to combat vitamin deficiencies in children who are growing up in
impoverished circumstances. These scientists are working with deep fried carrot
chips. Because people in developing countries have a hard time getting enough
calories as well as vitamins, the fat content in deep friend carrot chips is not
a concern. In fact, the extra calories can be quite important to their diet.
Unlike baked carrot chips, deep fried carrot chips can contain over 50% fat.
Carrot Hot Dog - click here
Carrot Puddings -
here 2346 carrot recipes
here
Viking Carrot Casserole 1 Cup of Water 2/3 Cup of pearl barley 1 to 1 1/2 Cups of milk 1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt 2 Tablespoons of honey 1/4 Teaspoon of nutmeg 2 Eggs, beaten 1 Tablespoon of butter 2 to 3 Tablespoons of bread crumbs
Bring water to a boil and add barley. Partially cover and simmer until water is absorbed. Add 1 cup of milk and simmer until absorbed. If the barley is not done add more milk - done but firm with some milk left , cool a little. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix carrots, salt, honey and nutmeg into milk and barley then add eggs. Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole with half the butter and sprinkle in part of the bread crumbs and then pour in the mixture, topping with the rest of the bread crumbs and dot with the butter. Bake 40 minutes or until top and sides are brown.
2/3 cup orange blossom honey
2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut bite-sized on the bias
2 tablespoons cumin seed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Method
Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Add honey, salt, and then stir. Add
carrots. Cook on medium heat for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until
the liquid has mostly evaporated and the carrots are tender. Turn off heat.
Add cumin, olive oil, and lemon juice and stir. About 4 servings.
Jalapeno Carrot Pickle
These spicy pickled carrots are not exactly a side dish, they are very strongly flavoured so they are usually eaten in small amounts along with the main dish. Spicy pickled carrots add a wonderful zing of flavour to any meal. Ingredients:
•2 lbs large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces; 5 cloves garlic peeled and diced ;1 1/2 cups vinegar;1 1/2 cups water;10 bay leaves, whole ;8 peppercorns ;1 teaspoon salt; 6 oz. pickled jalapenos.
Preparation: Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté the garlic. Add in carrots and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Carefully add in vinegar, peppercorns, salt, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes and then add water and jalapenos and bring to a simmer again for another 10 minutes. Let it cool completely and then transfer the carrots and cooking liquid into a covered container and refrigerate overnight. Store the carrots in the liquid and use a slotted spoon to serve them. You may leave the bay leaves in the liquid to add to the flavour, but do not eat them. Always remove the bay leaves before you eat the carrots.
Ultimate Carrot-Banana Muffins
Ingredients -
2 cups grated raw carrot (I used store-grated carrots, which are too big, and
chopped them up into small bits – saved time and grating. Hate grating.)
2 bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (I really put it in this time, and I do think it made a difference)
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 large eggs (yes, 3!)
3/4 cup olive oil
(you can also add 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts if desired)
Method
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine everything in a bowl. Should be a very liquid, sweet dough. If it
doesn’t look liquid, add a splash of milk, or more oil.
Grease or line the muffin cups.
Pour batter into a pan with 12 muffin cups. (This is enough batter for 18 small
ones, but you want 12 enormous ones with tops!)
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees or until you can stick a fork in and it
comes out clean.
Cool until completely cool, and ease out gently with a knife. EAT!
There is some debate about whether you can eat the green leaves. Yes you can!
Despite the presence of celery and carrots in the carrot family of Apiaceae ("umbellifers"), many other members of the family are highly poisonous, but not carrot.
They ARE edible and are highly nutritive, rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. The tops of the carrots are loaded with potassium which can make them bitter, so the use of them in food is limited, but there some ideas and recipes on a separate page.
Top
10 reasons for eating Carrots
Have you had your carrots today? Maybe you don't realise there are 10 very good reasons why you should be eating this wonderful vegetable every day.
1. They taste good. Carrots have a mild, pleasant flavour that is great by themselves or blended with other foods.
2. Carrots can be eaten cooked or raw. Crunchy or soft, from soups to salad, it's entirely up to your mood or your menu.
3. Kids (even toddlers) like the mild taste of carrots.
4. Raw carrots are great to carry in a sack lunch, to your next picnic, or in the car when you are on the go.
5. Carrots are available and in season all year long.
6. Carrots are inexpensive all year.
7. They are a great source of Vitamin A and Beta Carotene. Vitamin A is very important for healthy skin, eyes, hair , growth, and helps our bodies resist infections. Beta Carotene is linked to reducing chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. (see nutrition page).
8. Carrots are a good source of fibre. Fibre is important of our gastrointestinal tracts and is linked to reducing cholesterol in our bodies.
9. Carrots are low in calories. One average carrot contains about 30 calories.
10. Carrots are a great source of alpha carotene, probably more powerful than beta carotene in inhibiting processes that may lead to tumour growth.
Try to eat a carrot a day. Here's how:
The basic rule of this diet is to add
a carrot at or near the beginning of every meal. Why should this work? This
works because a bulky carrot at or near the meal's beginning leaves
no room in the stomach at the meal's end for the extra ice-cream
or cheesecake. That saves perhaps 500 calories a day, which translates to
a weight loss of about a pound a week. Even plain water at the beginning
of a meal will tend to create a full feeling in the stomach sooner in the
meal. This will reduce the amount of food consumed at the end. But eating
carrot is more fun.
Getting your carrot-a-day is easy, considering the vegetable's versatility and blendability. And subtlety: carrots enhance but don't overwhelm. Here are ways to put power on your table.
Cook grated carrots with beans, split peas, lentils, rice, pastas. Good in stuffing. Try them roasted - split large carrots lengthways and brush with a little oil then put on a roasting tray in a 200c oven for about 45 minutes until tender and browned. Try roast carrots, potato, sweet potato and pumpkin serve with steamed green vegetables and a nice sauce.
Toss grated carrot with potatoes for hashbrowns. (Toss in grated zucchini and minced onion, too.)
Add to sauces, white or red. Grated carrots give body and impart subtle flavour, and they fit any tomato or creamy soup, sauce, or casserole.
Mix finely-ground carrots into peanut butter. New kind of crunch. (If you want to make a really GOOD Peanut Butter & carrot sandwich, smoosh in a banana.)
Hot and Cold Salad: Sautè onion, green pepper, and grated or finely sliced carrots. Remove from heat and pour your preferred salad vinegar over hot veggies. (It will hiss and steam.) While hot, add to chilled salad greens. Toss and serve.
Herb and Vegetable Bread or Biscuits: To your regular dough, add finely grated carrots; minced onion (dried flakes or fresh green); parsley; garlic powder; sprinkle of basil and skosh of oregano or sage. We like to add some dried or pesto tomatoes and a few hearty shakes of parmesan cheese.
For some reason, males and small children who normally turn down veggies like those baby carrots. They come washed, peeled, prepackaged - meaning they cost more than their bulk-buy counterparts. But it's still more nutrition per penny than fast food.
Lose weight - no problem! -Click here!
The cookware we use for food preparation, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the pesticide-sprayed leafy greens we eat, can lead to an exposure to heavy metals. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 1985, carrot juice can pull these heavy metals from fatty tissue where they reside, bind them up, and discharge them from the system.
Carrot juice, because of its many healthy benefits, is frequently called the "miracle juice." A large number of people in all walks of life suffering from various ailments have found that the inclusion of carrot juice in their diet has greatly improved their health. Countless others have found it to be a valuable "protective" agent in the building and maintenance of health in both children and adults, while its delicious flavour makes it popular with all members of the family as a beverage, plain or combined with other juices.
Carrot juice is a very important source of vitamin A. Scientists in the U.S. estimate that this juice contains the largest source of vitamin A, than any other fruit juice. Carrot juice provides an important source of dietary fibre and has approximately 24 calories in each 2 oz. Serving. It contains important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin B complex, vitamin A, and as mentioned - mostly vitamin A.
Carrot juice is a therapeutic agent used
for over 150 years as an ancient practice. It is
reported
to contain healing properties that have proven to treat varied diseases.
Even complexion problems can be eliminated with the intake and digestion
of needed potassium in carrot juice to help neutralize excess acid to the
skin. The vitamin A in carrot juice helps the liver flush out toxins from
the body - toxins that cause complexion problems.
Learn more about your favourite beverage at Carrot Juice Com here: All about Carrot Juice
Fresh juice has the ability to distribute an additional significant variety of nutrients, recognized as enzymes, which are your body's labour power. Performing as catalysts in hundreds of thousands of chemical reactions that occur throughout your body, enzymes are crucial for digestion and amalgamation of food, for conversion of food packs into body tissue, and for the creation of energy at the cellular level. In fact, enzymes are vital for most of the metabolic actions taking position in your body every second of every day.
Fresh juices are a wonderful resource of enzymes. The freshness of juice is one of their key features, since enzymes are damaged by high temperature. Given that fruits and vegetables are juiced uncooked, the enzymes are still there when you drink the juice!
Fruit and vegetable juices are also excellent sources of the traditional nutrients. Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, etc.) are packed with vitamin C. Carrot juice contains vitamin A, in the form of beta-carotene. Green juices are excellent sources of vitamin E. Fruit juices are also a source of essential minerals like iron, copper, potassium, sodium, iodine, and magnesium, which are most easily assimilated throughout digestion.
Since juicing eliminates the hard to digest fibre, nutrients are obtainable to the body in a great deal of larger quantities than if the piece of fruit or vegetable was eaten whole. For instance, since a lot of the nutrients are in the fibre, when you eat a raw carrot, you are only able to absorb about 1% of the beta-carotene. When a carrot is juiced, eliminating the fibre, virtually 100% of the beta-carotene may be assimilated.
Fruits and vegetables offer another substance that is completely fundamental for good health - water. Over 65% of most of the cells in the human body are made of water, and in some tissues, such as the brain, the cells may be made up of as much as 80% water. Water is extremely necessary for good health, yet most people don't consume enough water each day. Fruit and vegetable juices are free of unnecessary substances and are bursting with pure, clean water.
(reference http://www.soymilkquick.com/juice.html)
Make Carrot Juice
Almost any large variety, one called Neptun is an excellent long season 'Flakee'
type carrot with large conical roots up to 12in/30cm long, with an intense
orange colour and are particularly sweet for their type.
If you can find it, Juwarot is the carrot with the highest beta carotene
content. Otherwise the regular shop varieties, Imperator, Nantes, Chantenay,
Danvers and Nairobi.
Avoid "baby carrots", also make sure you use all of the carrot. Many take off
their skins, where most of the goodness lies. Make sure you drink it as soon as
possible as it does not keep well. Best made and drunk fresh.
1. Wash fresh, whole carrots. Trim
off the ends.
2. Following instructions for your model, push carrots through juicer, catching
juice in cup as directed.
3. Clean pulp from strainer as you go along, if necessary.
4. Drink juice immediately or within a few days. Carrot juice does not
keep for long and tastes best when fresh
Preparing Carrots for Juicing. Wash carrots thoroughly in cold water, using a stiff vegetable brush. Scrape lightly, but do not peel, as valuable vitamins and minerals lies close to the surface. The juice should be taken immediately it is made, if at all possible. If not, let the juice flow directly into glass jars which should then be covered with screw-on lids. After pouring the quantity to be used immediately, keep the remaining juice tightly covered, in the refrigerator to prevent loss of vitamin and mineral content through oxidation.
Carrot juice blends with practically all other juices. It is a delicious nourishing beverage for all members of the family at all times and it should be an important part of the diet in cases of illness. One pound of carrots will make approximately six to eight ounces of carrot juice. The large, firm, dark-yellow carrots should be selected for juicing, rather than the light-yellow ones, because of their greater carotene content.
It’s also important to add a good squeeze of lemon juice, you won’t really
notice the taste of it and it will stop the apple juice from oxidising and
turning the whole thing a muddy brown colour. Oxidisation won’t affect the
taste, but it’s nicer if your fresh juice doesn’t look like pond water.
Black Carrot has been planted in Turkey for over a century and is juiced
for fresh drinking and manufacturing a local sharp summer drink called
"Salgam". Tameks Tarim is the Turkish producer and their site is
www.tameks.com.
Tips
It is not necessary to peel the carrots,
but if they are not organic, you may wish to.
Try running an inch or so of ginger root
through the juicer with the carrots for a zesty variation.
Yes, you can freeze carrot juice, but:
1. It will be very thin and separated when thawed (so you can use it for
cooking, for an ingredient in salad dressing, etc, but not so great for
drinking)
2. It may pick up flavours in the freezer, so be certain to wrap it
very tightly.
3. A small amount of nutritional value will be lost.
4. There is no need to blanche the carrots first, just make juice as normal in a juicer.
5. It should last a month, but it's never as good as fresh.
2 cups sliced
carrots, cooked and mashed
1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
1/2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. pepper
Dash of hot sauce 1 egg white
1 1/4 cups coarsely crushed cornflakes
Combine carrots, breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, pepper, and hot sauce; toss lightly. Beat egg white until stiff peaks form; fold into carrot mixture.
Shape mixture into 2-inch balls; roll in cornflakes. Place balls on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
Now try Jamaican Carrot Juice - with a kick!
This carrot juice drink, made mostly on Sundays, is the crowned king of Jamaican
dinner juices. This is one of the methods used to make this juice.
Ingredients:
2lbs. Carrot
1 can Condensed Milk
¼ lb Sugar
2 tablespoon nutmeg
2 tablespoon vanilla flavouring
3 cups water
Tools:
Electric Blender
Fine grain strainer
Wash the carrots to remove any dirt or foreign matter, then cut the carrots into
tiny pieces, let us say 1/8 inch (please, do not measure the pieces just
estimate).
Put carrots into the Electric Blender one handful at a time until the Blender is
¾ ways full, each time. Add about ½ cup of water to the carrots in the Blender.
Turn the Blender switch to puree and allow carrots to process until they are
ground to a pulp.
Remove pulp and place into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup water to pulp. Using
your clean hand, squeeze the pulp in your palm, allowing the juice to flow
through the strainer.
Put the squeezed pulp on a plate to the side. Repeat this process until all the
pulp is squeezed.
Add water to the squeezed pulp that you put on a plate earlier, in a mixing
bowl.
Squeeze this pulp again. Drain carrot juice into another container through the
strainer so as to stop any remaining pulp from getting into the final product.
Mix in the condensed milk with the carrot juice, add sugar to taste. Add nutmeg
and vanilla flavouring.
You can add more water or more ingredients if you like, to bring about the taste
you desire.
Add a capful of white rum to the mixture to enhance the flavour!
10 Great Uses For Carrot Juice
I guess most people think of carrot juice as a health-food store item for "cranks". In fact it has been available on supermarket shelves for years. You will find cans of carrot juice where other canned fruit and vegetable juices are. And although a freshly "squeezed" glass of carrot juice made in a juicer may seem like it's better for you, the canned juice has no preservatives, no added ingredients, and every bit as much beta-carotene as the fresh stuff.
So why not give it a go and discover these inventive uses for this "wonder drug":
1. In Breads & Muffins:
Substitute carrot juice for some or all of the liquid in a bread recipe. It works for yeast breads as well as for quick breads and muffins. The carrot juice gives the bread an incredibly rich, golden colour and a hint of sweetness
2 .In Risottos & Pilau:
Instead of cooking rice or barley or couscous in water or broth (canned broth, after all, doesn't add much to food except salt), try simmering or steeping it in carrot juice. You'll wind up with golden grains that look like they've been cooked with saffron (at a tiny, tiny fraction of the price, and a huge health benefit that saffron does not have
3. In Soups & Stews:
Don't even think about making soup with water when you can use carrot juice instead. Savoury soups and stews, minestrone, chilli, tomato, cream of carrot (naturally), winter squash, split pea, you name it--benefit from the added richness. And if you're a fan of fruit soups, you can sneak some carrot juice in there, too.
4. In Sauces:
Another place this "liquid gold" fits in: sauces. Carrot juice can be incorporated into pasta (tomato) sauce, meat or poultry gravies, and savoury cream sauces, and to thin vegetable purees to pouring consistency.
5. In Mashed Potatoes:
Add carrot juice to mashed white potatoes or sweet potatoes. The mash will look like it's dripping with butter whether you add any or not. And that goes for other mashable vegetables like turnips, parsnips or celery root.
6. In Cakes & Biscuits:
If you're baking a cake, try subbing carrot juice for half the milk in the recipe to enrich the golden-ness of a gold cake or a fruit or nut cake. Carrot juice makes a wonderful addition to chocolate cakes and brownies, too.
7 As a Poultry Glaze:
In Broiled Carrot-Glazed Chicken, brushed a sweet-tart glaze (made of carrot juice, honey, and vinegar) over chicken breasts and then broil them. Some of the same mixture is used as a sauce. You could use carrot juice as the foundation for other glazes too: for chicken, meat, or fish.
8. In Homemade Pasta:
If you go to the trouble of making pasta from scratch, you might as well use carrot juice instead water and enjoy some jazzy orange pasta. The flavour will be subtle, so don't worry about coming up with a "taste-matching" sauce. But the colour suggests some complementary ingredients: slivers of smoked salmon, winter-squash puree, a curried-chicken topping, for instance.
9. In Ice Creams & Puddings:
Use carrot juice in place of about one-third to one-half of the milk in puddings, custards, or ice creams. It works well with chocolate (the sweetness of the carrot juice complements and heightens the chocolate flavours)
10. In Drinks:
Last but not least. Add carrot juice to orange juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, apricot nectar, beet juice. It's not just the flavours that will surprise you, but the vivid colours you can mix up. Or make a smoothie: Consider a blend of peaches, vanilla yoghurt, carrot juice, a pinch of nutmeg and a splash of almond extract. Or orange juice, carrot juice, banana yoghurt, and a few drops of vanilla...you get the idea?. (Feeling wicked? Add a splash of vodka, a squirt of grenadine and a dash of lime juice to your cupful of carrot juice and top with a mint sprig.)
Top ten vitamin A-rich foods
| 1. liver, 3.5 oz, braised (10,602 µg) | 6. cantaloupe, 1 cup (515 µg) |
| 2. sweet potato, 4 oz, baked (2,487 µg) | 7. apricots, dried, 10 halves (253 µg) |
| 3. CARROT, 1 raw (2,025 µg) | 8. milk, 1 cup (149 µg) |
| 4. mango, 1 medium (805 µg) | 9. egg yolk (84 µg) |
| 5. spinach, 1/2 cup, boiled (737 µg) | 10. mozzarella cheese, part skim, 1 ounce (50 µg) |
Visit the Vitamin A page. Click here.
10
excellent ways to use up Carrot
pulp
1. Feed your carrot
pulp to rabbits, dogs, cats, and horses, among other members of the animal
kingdom.
2. Use this pulp for
making healthy muesli bars for children. Children love them so much. Here
is the recipe:
Soak rolled oats in the water (do not
make them soggy) and add to them carrot and apple pulp. Then add chopped
almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, linen seeds, and sultanas
. Add honey to taste. Mix thoroughly together and then put and flatten into
a baking tray. Bake at 180-190 C until nice and dry.
3. Make Golden Macaroons
- I'm sure there can be lots of variations with this recipe so I hope everyone
enjoys it.
4. Mix carrot pulp in
with spaghetti sauce along with the fresh onions and garlic.
5. Save the pulp and
make delicious muffins with whole wheat flour and honey.
6. Carrot cake and patties.
Patties can be made of half cooked brown rice, half carrot pulp, and chopped
onions, garlic, and green peppers. Use an egg to bind it together, but I'm
sure flour would work just as well.
7. You can also add
to the apple and carrot pulp some grated horseradish for a good winter salad.
If you use celeriac bulb for juicing, then that pulp is excellent with crushed
garlic and makes a healthy type of mayonnaise to spread on
toast.
8. Freeze the pulp in
freezer bags pressing them flat so they are easy to break off a piece. This
is good to drop into soups, sauces, mixes of various sorts. It works in
anything.
9. Gather pulp in
the refrigerator until there is plenty then dry it out. You have dried carrot
pulp flakes. This keeps indefinitely. Sprinkle it on or in just about anything
including on top of salad as "sprinkles." It also works well in whole grain
quick breads such as muffins, pancakes, etc. Depending on what you plan to
put it in, if you need moisture added, use the moist pulp either fresh or
frozen. If you want it dry, as on salad, use the dehydrated.
10. If all else fails
use in the compost bin. It adds moisture to the dry layer above and below
it and cuts composting time significantly.
1 cup grated raw carrots, packed;1/2 cup
water ;1/3 cup honey
1 1/2 cup coconut ; 1/2 cup of whole wheat
flour and 1/2 cup of oats
1/2 tsp salt (optional) 1 tsp
vanilla
Blend dry, quick or rolled oats to make
a flour. Mix well all ingredients. Let sit 10 min. firmly pack dough into
a tablespoon then drop on an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 325f for 30
min.
Have you heard of the Baptist pastor who at the age of 42 was pastoring a large church in Glenfalls New York and was stricken with colon cancer? He heard about a different way to eat so he started on raw vegetables, fruit, barley green, distilled water and for the first couple of months 8 to 10 glasses of pure carrot juice a day. Not only did his cancer disappear but every other ailment as well. That was about 18 years ago and now Dr George Malkmus gives seminars across the US and Canada and recently in Australia. He says "Eat the Hallelujah Diet and you do not have illness". Quite a claim!
Check out the website of Hallelujah Acres for yourself. Forget the religious hype and see the diet then read the testimonies from people of all ages who have had their serious cancers, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and other serious illnesses disappear as a result of the diet.
Polish Christmas Eve
Dinner
In Polish tradition Christmas Eve is celebrated with a thirteen course dinner. One condition covers this event - there must be no meat dish. This inevitably involves the introduction of at least one carrot dish.
If you want to go the whole way with the thirteen course Christmas Eve Dinner then tradition dictates three different soups; three fish entrees; and there must be an odd number of appetizers, garnishes, accompaniments, and desserts to complete the meal.
In "The Best Of Polish Cooking" Karen West suggests:
Christmas Eve Barszcz (beetroot soup),
Christmas Almond Soup, Beer Soup with Eggs; Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Poached
Pike, Carp with Horseradish Sauce; Baby Carrots Polonaise, Hot Polish Chicory,
Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes; Christmas Eve Bread, Poppyseed Roll, and Fruit
Compote.
However she generously admits that, "even the most diligent chef finds it
difficult to incorporate all the above dishes in one meal"!
Polish Carrot Soup
Take a dozen carrots scraped clean, grate them, but
do not use the core, two heads of celery, two onions thinly sliced, season to
taste,
and pour over a good stock, say about two quarts.
Boil it, then pass it through a sieve; it should be of the thickness of cream, return it to the saucepan, boil it up and squeeze in a little lemon juice, or add a little vinegar.
Microwaving retains more goodness - read more
Have you heard of the situation where carrot shreds in carrot cake turn bright green after baking. Some cooks think this is crazy. Do you know what circumstances produce the colour change? Is it the sequence ingredients are added, the type of oven (gas vs. electric) used? People seem to either be familiar with the colour change or deny that it happens. Any ideas?
Answers so far - it could be a reaction to the baking soda. You may try this
experiment next time: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Put your shredded carrots
in a fine mesh colander, and dip it in the boiling water for 5-10 seconds,
and then straight in to ice water (to stop the cooking process). Now they
are blanched, and are less sensitive to chemical reactions.
OR Sometimes cakes will turn greenish if left to cool in a metal pan. This
is due to the oxidisation of the metal, and can be prevented by turning the
cake out onto a cooling rack after about 10 minutes. We have heard of carrots
turning green when bought in packages pre-grated. This could also be due
to oxidization. You might try peeling your carrots first, before grating
them.
OR The colour change in your carrots is probably because they have been mixed
or baked in a metal pan. Some aluminium and stainless steel dishes can cause
the carrots to oxidise and turn green. Use a glass bowl to mix, and line
metal baking pans with parchment.
OR It is simply oxidisation. Sometimes it may also cause a reaction when mixed in an aluminium or stainless steel bowl or even when baked in an aluminium pan. If that's the case, you could just mix it in a glass bowl and line your pan with parchment. It may be even a reaction from the baking soda/powder. Carrots naturally turn green if even left out, especially uncooked shreds.
OR Make sure to peel all of your carrots before shredding them and you won't have bits of green in your cake!
Baking soda can have an effect on the colour of fruits. Baking soda is chemically classified as a base - above 7 pH- in order to work, baking soda must be combined with an acid-below 7 pH- (high school chemistry). Too much baking soda made blueberries turn greyish-green. If you replace the baking soda with cream of tartar (an acid), the cream of tartar makes the blueberries turn more of a magenta colour. So maybe the same with carrots?
For a more in depth scientific discussion on the problem click here.
If anyone does have a suggestion please get in touch with the Curator,
click here
Marzipan carrots are easy to make, and look adorable on top of carrot
cake or cupcakes! You can
modify
the recipe and vary the size of the carrots to suit your needs.
You can make your own marzipan, or purchase it from most large grocery stores.
Marzipan most commonly comes in 7-ounce tubes (the quantity called for here) but
you can use more or less depending on what you have available.
Ingredients:
• 7 ounces (1 roll) marzipan, Red and yellow food colouring, Powdered sugar for
dusting, Edible sprigs of herbs for decoration (optional).
Preparation:
1. Coat your hands with powdered sugar, or wear plastic gloves.
2. Knead the marzipan until it has softened slightly. Flatten the marzipan into
a disc, and add a few drops of red and yellow food colouring to the middle, using
a ratio of 1 drop red to 2 drops yellow. Fold the marzipan into a ball and begin
to knead the colour throughout the dough, adding more food colouring if desired,
working until the marzipan is one uniform colour.
3. Roll the dough into small balls the size of a quarter. Roll the balls between
your palms, elongating them into thin tubes and tapering one end, so that they
are shaped like carrots.
4. Take a toothpick and, holding it perpendicular to the carrots, make
horizontal indentations all along the length of the toothpick to create slight
creases.
5. If desired, poke holes in the tops of the carrots, and insert the sprigs of
herbs to be the carrot leaves.
6. Store marzipan carrots in an airtight Tupperware container for up to two
weeks, or freeze well-wrapped marzipan carrots for up to three months.
Carrot Peeler
This gadget may look weird, and perhaps you can say that it is. The Carrot
Curler makes a difficult job, that of making carrot ribbons for garnish, into
something easy. Whereas the traditional vegetable peeler is designed for many
purposes, the carrot curler has one unique function.
Simply place the carrot in the curler and rotate the carrot clockwise. The
ribbons will just shave right off. available from Bed Bath & Beyond (USA).
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