maple candied carrots

by Michelle

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I planned on serving these screen-licking worthy MAPLE CANDIED CARROTS last night as a vegetable side at a little dinner party I was having. Best laid plans…

Happily for me, my friends completely understood that some days have minds of their own. Between post production work for Co-Op Atlantic, baking and shooting a batch of hot cross buns and visiting Dad – who is doing great by the way – the day slipped away. I got as far as setting the table when I stopped.

I’m not sure when it became clear to me that my energy level has started to slow down but it has. I can’t pull off the mile long to-do lists that a couple of years ago were normal. Instead of beating myself up, I’m going to write shorter lists!

I sent my friends a text explaining that I was running way behind and would they mind if we ate at a restaurant.

“It’s not about where we eat. It’s about spending the evening together. Relax and let’s decide where should we go?”

I love my friends!

My MAPLE CANDIED CARROTS got packaged up to be served another day but not before I tasted them. They taste as good as they look.

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MAPLE CANDIED CARROTS 
Serves 4

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1½ pounds young carrots, all similar size and thickness, peeled and halved lengthwise
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
½ cup water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter
Dried thyme

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THE STEPS:

  • Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Toss the carrots to coat with oil.

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  • Cook for 3 minutes, then add brown sugar and water.
  • Stir carefully to coat the carrots.

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  • Cook for 5 minutes then add maple syrup and dried thyme.
  • Stir carefully to coat the carrots.

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  • Cook until the carrots are tender and sauce is thick, about 8 minutes.
  • Add butter and cook until butter is melted.

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  • Toss well then remove the thyme stem and discard.
  • Serve immediately.

THE LOVE: Toss your carrots gently and often to make sure that they’re well coated with the glaze and so you don’t break them as they soften.

Thanks for reading.

photography by michelle

maple candied carrots
Author: michelle
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1½ pounds young carrots, all similar size and thickness, peeled and halved lengthwise
  • ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Dried thyme
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. Toss the carrots to coat with oil.
  4. Cook for 3 minutes, then add brown sugar and water.
  5. Stir carefully to coat the carrots.
  6. Cook for 5 minutes then add maple syrup and dried thyme.
  7. Stir carefully to coat the carrots.
  8. Cook until the carrots are tender and sauce is thick, about 8 minutes.
  9. Add butter and cook until butter is melted.
  10. Toss well then remove the thyme stem and discard.
  11. Serve immediately.
Notes
Toss your carrots gently and often to make sure that they’re well coated with the glaze and so you don’t break them as they soften.

 

4 comments

CampCook February 24, 2015 - 3:04 pm

This is an incredible
recipe! I had my son and his family over last night for dinner where I
served these delicious carrots and, to my surprise, the 4 year old and the 3
year old couldn’t get enough. The only alteration to the recipe was that
I sprinkled my dry thyme leaves on (approx, 1-1/2 tsp.) rather than use it as a
whole sprig. Obviously, that is going to give more of the thyme flavor but it
pairs very well with the sweetness of the syrup and brown sugar and the natural
flavor of the carrots. Definitely has made the keeper list!

Reply
Michelle Hooton February 25, 2015 - 6:07 pm

When a recipe can get your kids to eat their veggies, it’s definately a keeper! Thanks for chatting.

Reply
Rexanna Keats March 1, 2015 - 3:15 pm

This afternoon, I made maple candied carrots using Michelle Hooton​’s recipe and some of my souvenir jam jar of maple syrup from Quebec City. Yummy for such a small amount of sweeteners. I varied it by using regular carrots from the Victory Meat Market Ltd.​, slicing some of them vertically into quarters, and parboiling them for a few minutes. Still yummy!

Reply
Michelle Hooton March 1, 2015 - 8:03 pm

So please that you enjoyed it!

Reply

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