Glazed Carrots

Adding a hint of something sweet to slow-cooked carrots turns them from tasty to terrific.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut quartered lengthwise into 4-inch sticks

¹/₂ cup vegetable broth or water

1 tablespoon coconut crystals or maple syrup

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh parsley or dill, chopped

1. Place carrot sticks in slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the broth or water, coconut crystals or syrup, and olive oil. Pour the liquid over the carrots.

2. Cover and cook on Low for 2 to 3 hours until carrots are tender. Open the lid and keep it propped open with the handle of a wooden spoon, and continue to cook for 20 to 30 minutes until some liquid is cooked off and the carrots glaze.

3. Garnish with fresh parsley or dill before serving.

Carrots could be considered “candy”—a vegetable that also has a fairly high sugar content. Fortunately that sugar is naturally occurring and a “treat” in the truest sense of the word. Carrots are loaded with other vitamins and minerals, most notably beta carotene, from which they get their color. The brighter the better!