healthy – Fox Creek Artistry

Carrot french fries.

Yes, you read that right! I am so excited to share this recipe today!

My kids, like every kid in history, really enjoy eating some less-than-healthy foods, and tend to be pickier about eating the good-for-you foods. And I, like every parent in history, get concerned about my children’s diet, and if they are getting enough vitamins.

Enter: Baked Carrot French Fries!

These fries bake in the oven, and come out crispy, flavorful, and best of all; my kids love to eat them! I got my kids to love a vegetable! (parenthood award!).

These Carrot French Fries are easy to make-just cut, toss, and bake. No hot oil, no deep fryer appliances, just great tasting veggies!

While preheating the oven, I started washing and cutting up about a pound and a half of organic orange carrots. Now, this is the only tricky part in this recipe, because these suckers roll.

Use a fork to keep your digits safe!

I found that you can steady the carrot, and keep your fingers out of the danger zone, by piercing the carrot with a fork, and then cutting the carrot. Brilliant! Keep those fingers safe!

I cut these carrots into matchstick size: about two inches long, and about a quarter inch in diameter. After slicing in half, I cut them into thirds.

Once all the carrots are cut, toss them in a bowl with a little oil, and spices. I used safflower oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika. Safflower has a high smoke point, and a very neutral taste that lets the carrots and paprika shine.

You can really experiment with some exciting flavors here; what about coconut oil and cinnamon?! Sesame oil and garam masala?! Smoked chipotle?! MMM! Let your imagination run wild!

Then, arrange all the carrots on a large sheet pan. I used a half-size sheet pan for this. It’s very important to not overcrowd these carrots, or they won’t crisp up. I tried making a larger batch, but they ended up kind of soggy. Leave them space on a large sheet pan, or use two smaller pans.

Bake in the hot oven for about fifteen minutes, then flip the carrots to roast evenly. You’ll see some really pretty browning on the bottom, but don’t eat them just yet! Resist the temptation! Toss them around, and arrange again so there’s plenty of room for all the carrots to bake.

Give them another five to seven minutes, depending on your oven, and desired level of crispiness. Then let them sit. Don’t dive in just yet! Patience will pay off! They will seem slightly floppy when they first come out of the oven, but if you can let them sit on the tray for a few minutes, they will start to dry and turn crispy.

Yum!

BAKED CARROT FRENCH FRIES

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

1 to 1 1/2 pounds carrots, cut into matchsticks

2 tablespoons oil

1/2 tsp salt

dash pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a medium bowl, toss carrots in oil to coat.
Sprinkle in seasonings, and toss until evenly coated.
Spread carrots on a single layer in a large sheet pan. Ensure they aren’t touching each other too much, as that will impede their crisping.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Flip carrots and bake and additional 5-7 minutes.
Let sit 5 minutes until cooled and crisp.

Thanks so much for checking out this recipe! I hope it gets your kids (or you) to eat more veggies!

What combos would you use for your carrot french fries? Let me know in the comments below!

On the North shore, we don’t get as hot as other spots. There isn’t an urban heat bubble that occurs in larger cities, and we get a nice breeze off the lake that keeps us relatively cool. But lately, we’ve been having high heat with a bunch of humidity, and that equals one cranky mama!

I’ve been attempting to keep myself (and the family) hydrated, but it’s hard to keep up. On top of that, drinking so much plain water is getting monotonous. Ugh, it’s boring!

I could easily reach for a ‘water enhancer’, or a ‘sports drink’. But both are terrible options for your health. Both contain a ton of sugar, or worse artificial sweeteners. If you consume sports drinks after exercising, you’re likely to drink more calories than you burned off! Neither of which are good for you if you are trying to stay hydrated. Sports drinks are actually worse for your teeth than soda, and water enhancers commonly include the chemical propolyne glycol, which is also used in antifreeze and deicers. I work very hard to keep chemicals like this out of my family’s diet, and the thought of guzzling it down just to avoid water sends shivers down my spine.

I want to keep my family from becoming dehydrated, but I’m sick of hounding them about water!

So I turned to an old folk beverage that I learned about a few years ago: Switchel.

Also called ‘Haymaker’s Punch’, Switchel is a natural electrolyte beverage, which helps maintain normal water balance and distribution in the body. It is said that farm workers used to drink after raking and baling up hay in the hot sun.

It is usually made with vinegar, ginger, a mild sweetener, and water. After tinkering with the ratios, and testing it out on my family, friends, and at the local farmer’s market, and I think I’ve found an excellent recipe to share with you today!

My version of Switchel contains apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. All of these ingredients alone are major health powerhouses, and when you combine them all together–wham! You get a tasty, nourishing, hydrating drink that you can feel good about giving to your family! Woohoo!

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has long been touted for its health benefits. Its use even dates back to Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. ACV has been shown to be beneficial in reducing blood pressure, and reducing acid reflux, and other digestive ailments, as well as having antiglycemic properties, even for people with diabetes.

Many people are turned off by the flavor of vinegar. It can be overpowering, and the rest of the flavors don’t come through. My solution to this was to add lemon juice. This turned the tart, sour flavor into something more akin to lemonade, and it quickly became more palatable.

Ultimately, I did have to add some sweetness to the drink. I found that honey was the best option for my Switchel. Some other sweeteners that are used are molasses, maple syrup, and brown sugar. Molasses wasn’t sweet enough, and the flavor was a little jarring. Maple syrup didn’t blend well with the other ingredients. Brown sugar and regular organic sugar tasted fine, but I didn’t want to be adding so much sugar without the benefits. So I choose to use raw, organic, local honey in my Switchel. It works the best with the rest of the flavors, and it comes with a whole host of health benefits on its own.

Most honey that you buy at a grocery store has been heated, filtered, and/or pasteurized. In doing this, the natural antioxidants, vitamins, and enzymes are destroyed. Raw honey is honey in its natural form, and it has many health benefits. Local honey can improve seasonal allergy symptoms. Raw honey contains antioxidants, and is the perfect workout fuel, as it contains both carbohydrates and sugar to keep you going. This is a seriously good-for-you food, and it is perfect in conjunction with the rest of my Switchel ingredients.

Ginger is the next ingredient in Switchel. According to Dr. Singletary: “Ginger has been a part of healing strategies in Asia, India, Europe, and the Middle East for centuries for treatment of such disorders as arthritis, stomach upset, asthma, diabetes, and menstrual irregularities, to name a few.” Ginger is great for all things tummy related: it has phenolic compounds which relieve digestive problems, it’s great for combating nausea, and it helps reduce inflammation as well. No wonder my mother always gave it to us kids when we had tummy aches!

Fresh ginger will have the best flavor, and the best potency. However, when I tried using fresh grated ginger in my Switchel I was not a fan of the chunks. They floated to the top, and it was difficult to get them evenly dispersed through the liquid. I have substituted organic ginger powder in my Switchel, and I have loved the results.

I have used turmeric in many dinners, but this is the first time that I have used it in a beverage. I love putting this spice in everything, because it has great anti-inflammatory properties for your gut, and also for your joints. It even can alleviate tooth pain, and provide relief for gingivitis and periodontitis.

A touch of cinnamon rounds out the beautiful flavors in this drink. Marrying cinnamon with ginger and apple is always a winning combination. But it also is really good for you! It gives the Switchel another kick of antioxidants, and it is another ingredient that is good for your gut. Cinnamon has been used as an antiemetic, antidiarrheal, and antiflatulent. Lately, if I start experiencing indigestion, or an overall stomach upset, I take a cinnamon supplement and my symptoms disappear!

With all the incredible health benefits of this drink, I am going to be making it all year round, not just when it’s hot outside. Here’s the recipe so you can give it a try, too.

Switchel Recipe

Makes a half gallon

In a half gallon jar, mix together:

½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar

⅓ – ½ cup raw, organic, local honey

½ cup lemon juice

1 tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground turmeric

Pinch cinnamon

Shake vigorously to combine, and dissolve the honey.

Then fill the remainder of the jar with water.

Shake before each serving, as the spices will fall to the bottom.

I hope you give Switchel a try! I am so happy to have an alternative to sports drinks and water enhancers that is actually good for the body! What other beverages to you drink to stay hydrated? Let me know, and then let me know what you think of Switchel!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is what works for my family, and our own health needs. Please consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any vitamin or supplement regimen.

Tag: healthy

Baked Carrot French Fries

Switchel: Nourish and Hydrate!