Posts tagged ‘carrots’

July 20, 2012

Chunky Carrot Guacamole

by Stephanie

As promised, I bring you…

Chunky Carrot Guacamole

Adapted from Alton Brown’s Guacamole recipe
{gluten-free}

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 C baby carrots
  • 1/2 medium onion (cut into 1 inch pieces)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 Tbs cilantro
  • 3 avocados
  • 2 Roma tomatoes
  • 1/4 C lime juice (about 1 lime)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne

Directions:

  1. Place baby carrots, onion, garlic, and cilantro into a food processor, pulse until chopped.
  2. Add avocados, tomatoes, lime juice and spices and pulse until just mixed.
  3. Cover and place in refrigerator to cool for about an hour before serving.

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Oh you guys, this is just so, so, so easy.

And more importantly, delicious.

You may be wondering, why the hell would you add carrots to guacamole?  Well, the idea was spurred from my product development class (yes, that would be the same class where my GF Carrot Cheddar Biscuits and Post-Workout Energy Bites were developed).  When we worked with Bolthouse to develop a line of creative carrot products/recipes to utilize the shavings and extra carrot material from production of baby carrots, my friend Emily developed Carrot Guacamole.  I ate the lion’s share of the guac she made each class, and have craved it ever since.  So I decide to give it a go.  Needless to say, the results were delectable.  And who doesn’t need a little extra veg in their life?

So go on, gather up your ingredients!

And get to food processor-ing. {I just made up that word.}

Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Enjoy!

April 8, 2012

Mini Gluten-Free Carrot Cheddar Biscuits

by Stephanie

Good morning and Happy Easter!

I hope you all are enjoying time spent with family and friends!

Hollywood over-exaggerates things.

Oh, those crazy celebrities…

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Yesterday, I mentioned I was baking up a storm, so today I have another delectable recipe for you!  If you haven’t checked it out already, take a look at the Lemon Meringue Cookies I made.  It’s the perfect treat to stick in the oven (on low, of course) while you’re at church!

Today’s recipe comes from my experimentations in the Product Development class I am taking at school.  We are working with a carrot farm who creates baby carrots (they don’t grow in the ground like that!).  Their challenge to us is to develop up with a recipe that utilizes the extra shavings that pile up when the baby carrots are formed.  Here’s what I came up with…

Mini Gluten-Free Carrot Cheddar Biscuits

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 15-18 minutes

Yield: 12 mini biscuits

Ingredients:

  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1/2 Cup warm water
  • 5 1/2 oz Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour (separated by weight, 2.5 oz and 3 oz)
  • 2 tsp xanthan gum
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 2.5 oz shredded carrots (about 2 thin carrots)
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 oz shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 Tbs sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. Dissolve yeast into warm water for at least 10 minutes.
  2. In the meantime, grate and measure (using a kitchen scale) the cheese and carrots.
  3. Also using the kitchen scale, measuring and separate the gluten-free flour.
  4. Add a teaspoon of xanthan gum and a teaspoon of baking soda to both the 2.5 oz and 3 oz flour amounts.
  5. In a medium bowl, add the 2.5 oz gluten-free flour mixture, carrots, oregano, and yeast.  Mix well.
  6. Place a damp cloth over the bowl and allow the dough to rise for about a half an hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
  7. Add the 3 oz flour mixture, cheese, oil, sugar, salt, basil, garlic, and cayenne to the dough. Mix/kneed well.
  8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  9. Let dough rise again for another half hour.
  10. Take a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place heaping tablespoons of dough on sheet.
  11. Place in oven for 15-18 minutes.
  12. Let cool for half hour and enjoy!

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Can I just toot my own horn for a second…

These things are GOOD!

They are so good that it prompted me to go out and buy my very first food scale just so I could make them at home!

It’s nothing fancy. You don’t need an expensive digital one, although those are very nice and precise!

I think it will go to good use, especially when it comes to making this recipe.

Don’t let yeast bread scare you! More than anything, it’s just a ton of waiting around for the dough to rise.

And the end result?

Delicious!

Gluten-Free, gobble-it-down goodness!

Happy Easter!