They say ‘good things come to those who wait’… Well, I guess if you’ve waited on me for my next new post, you’re welcome! Check out these Maple glazed heirloom carrots with lemon cashew cream! 🙂
I’ve taken some time off blogging in the past few months because, well, life happens, and I was overwhelmed with the amount of ‘stuff’ I had to do. I absolutely love blogging and sharing with you, but I was spending about 70+ hours a week on maintaining this website and all main social media associated with it, on top of my personal life and a part-time freelance career, and a few large projects I had going on (one of which I am hoping to share with you soon), so I made the conscious decision to take a break. For a blogger, taking a break can be a very stressful and anxious decision, which it was for me. But then a funny thing happened: when my projects were done and I started thinking about blogging again, the same fear came over me all over again, but this time to start writing again.
I’m not the most talented writer out there, that’s for sure, and to be honest, I’m still not quite sure if anyone reads what I have to say (other than a couple of relatives). No one I know ever talks to me about my blog. haha I was actually shocked when one of my friends texted me last month and asked if my website was “done”! haha So, I’ve been thinking about what to say in my ‘comeback’ post, and the truth is, I couldn’t figure it out, so being my usual self, I figured I’ll just be honest 😉
During this hiatus from the blog, I’ve done a lot of thinking and realized that, true to my healthy life philosophy, I would much prefer to offer you a much higher quality article/recipe/information, than to just publish a post just for the sake of publishing a post. I might’ve said that before, but I think I mean it. haha I want to help you and encourage you in any way I can to live a healthier lifestyle, which includes a better life/work balance as well as a better life/internet balance, because I believe that, as a society, we are spending way too much time ‘connecting’ online and not enough time connecting in person. I think we can use a little help to slow down a bit. Rediscover the joys of cooking a meal that needs to simmer or braise for a few hours, or sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy reading a book or a magazine (which can be online too). What do you think?
So, for this reason, I am planning on starting to offer a Newsletter, starting in the Fall, for everyone who subscribes/ is already subscribed by email to this website. The blog will continue, of course, but for those who are subscribed, there will be extra goodies that will be sent to you by email, once or twice a month! Think of it as a mini e-magazine to enjoy 🙂
You’ll have to bear with me as I have to learn yet another technological item on my ever-growing to-do list, but I believe this will offer us a more human way to connect, to read posts at your leisure, and also to get extra information, recipes, etc., that will not be published publicly, as a thank you for subscribing and encouraging this website. This will be for you only, in your own inbox. I am very excited about this change! I hope you will like it too!
I’m also hoping to offer more French content for my francophone readers, starting with this recipe!
So today, I am sharing this beautiful and delicious recipe that I made last week. I would recommend using local heirloom carrots because the taste will be so much better! Only a handful of ingredients, and less than 20 mins to make (not including soaking time), this dish is a must try!
Note: For this recipe, you need to use raw cashews, the toasted/salted kind just won’t work. But good news! Raw nuts provide way more nutrition than their roasted version. And of course, I always recommend buying as many organic ingredients as you can, to live a much healthier life, and minimize your exposure to pesticides and other toxic chemicals, and GMOs.
Bon appétit!
ECP xo
Maple Glazed Heirloom Carrots with Lemon Cashew Cream | Vegan, Naturally Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs heirloom organic carrots washed but not peeled (I used a potato brush to give them a good scrub)
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp pistachios coarsely chopped
Cashew Cream
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup raw cashews soaked 2-3 hours or overnight
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/4 cup filtered water
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in a bowl covered with water for anything between 2 and 10 hours.
- Wash the carrots and dry them with a towel. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, and line the carrots on it.
- Mix the maple syrup and olive oil together with a fork and mix until it binds together. Drizzle over the carrots, and using your hands, move them around so that the carrots are well coated.
- Cook in the oven at 400F for about 15-20 minutes, depending on how big your carrots are. (You don't want them overcooked)
- To make the sauce, simply put the soaked cashews, the lemon juice, water and a generous pinch of sea salt in a high speed blender, and blend until very smooth. If it's too thick, add a bit more water.
- When the carrots are done, sprinkle a bit of grey sea salt on top, and pepper if using, then drizzle generously with the sauce, and top with some chopped pistachios.
- Enjoy!
Note: I do not believe anyone should worry about counting calories, but here is the nutritional information for one serving
Calories: 428kcal | Fat: 26g | Saturated fat: 4g | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 1069mg | Carbohydrates: 45g | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 21g | Protein: 9g | Vitamin A: 37910% | Vitamin C: 32.8% | Calcium: 116% | Iron: 3.2%
Carottes glacées à l'érable et sauce citron-cajou
Ingredients
- 700 g carottes de couleurs différentes lavées
- 2 c. à s. huile d'olive de bonne qualité
- 2 c. à s. sirop d'érable
- Pistaches crues coupées grossièrement
- sel de mer gris
- poivre au goût
- 3/4 tasse noix de cajou crues trempées 2-3 heures
- 1 citron jus
- 1/4 tasse eau filtrée
Instructions
- Faire tremper les noix de cajou dans un bol, recouvertes d'eau pendant 2 à 10 heures.
- Mettre les carottes lavées et séchés avec un chiffon propre sur une grande plaque à biscuits recouverte de papier parchemin.
- Mélanger l'huile d'olive et le sirop d'érable à la fourchette jusqu'à une consistence homogène.
- Verser le mélange sur les carottes et utilisant vos mains, les tourner afin qu'elles soient bien recouvertes.
- Cuire au four à 400F pendant 15 à 20 minutes (selon la grosseur des carottes - il ne faut pas trop les cuire).
- Pour faire la sauce, simplement mettre les cajou trempées, le jus du citron, l'eau et une pincée généreuse de sel de mer gris dans un mixeur à haute vitesse, et mélanger jusqu'à ce que la consistence soit bien onctueuse.
- Soupoudrer une pincée de sel et poivre sur les carottes cuites, servir avec un filet de sauce et des pistaches sur le dessus.
- Bon appétit!
Note: I do not believe anyone should worry about counting calories, but here is the nutritional information for one serving
Calories: 455kcal | Fat: 28g | Saturated fat: 4g | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 1088mg | Carbohydrates: 46g | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 22g | Protein: 10g | Vitamin A: 39005% | Vitamin C: 20.5% | Calcium: 121% | Iron: 3.4%
Note: This post may contain affiliate links.
Sue Heatherley says
What a lovely surprise to finally receive a new email/blog in inbox today! Welcome back.
I look forward to reading additional info in September.
Eyecandypopper says
Thank you so much Sue! I really appreciate the kind words! xo
Elen G says
Welcome back, ECP! I’m pretty sure I’m on your mailing list. If not, just add me. I’m good with bloggers dialing down the number of blogs each week. I wish that more would do that. There are a lot of great blogs out there in my areas of interest, and I simply can’t keep up with the prolific bloggers, which is why I moved to 2-3 times per week… unless I’m doing some month-long challenge.
I think the newsletter is a great idea. And this recipe looks divine. Cheers!
Elen G says
Okay. My first comment totally disappeared. I’ll try again. Welcome back, ECP. I’m sympathetic with your need to reduce the number of posts. It’s difficult to know what to do. I’ve gone to 2-3 times per week, unless I’m participating in a month-long challenge. There are a lot of great blogs in my areas of interest, but I can’t keep up with the prolific bloggers any longer, so if a blogger is blogging every day, I’m reading 1 or 2 a week. If I’m not subscribed to your email, and I’m pretty sure I am, just add me to the list. I look forward to your newsletter. Cheers!
Elen G says
I’ve tried twice to leave a comment of some length addressing this issue, but there seems to be some a glitch.
Eyecandypopper says
I got all of them! 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment(s), I appreciate it. As a blogger yourself, I know you can understand the amount of work that goes into it 😉 I think that’s just it, because of my desire to help people live a healthier life, I don’t want them (or myself) to get completely overwhelmed with the number of posts. I’m a bit scared about the Newsletter, simply because I don’t know how to do it yet, but I’ll get there, and I’m pretty excited about it! 🙂
Marlene says
I left a comment when your post first came out, but I wasn’t able to publish it, so I’ve come back to saw how nice it is to see you back again! You have such a lovely blog, and this recipe makes me want to life that plate right out of the computer and set it on the dinner table.
It’s always a surprise to me when someone says they read my blog or tried a recipe from it. When I first started, this was a pretty new thing in my circle of family and friends, so I got a lot of feedback. After four years, it’s no big deal when I post so there’s not as much feedback. An important thing for me is that first and foremost, I do this for myself … for the creativity of cooking, the joy of writing and the pleasure of photography. Then it doesn’t matter as much how many other people are reading (although, let’s face it, we want other people to read our stuff!).
Before I go, wanted to say I also enjoy seeing the recipes in English and French. My French is all but gone, and I never learned a practical kitchen vocabulary, so it’s great to see all those terms in your post.
Looking forward to more from you in future!
Eyecandypopper says
Thanks Marlene, I appreciate your lovely comment! It’s always nice to get feedback for sure 🙂 Glad you like the recipe and practice a bit of French at the same time!
Andy says
Had these recently and they were delicious! Great recipe!
Eyecandypopper says
Nice to hear! Yay! 🙂
Angie - WhippedGreenGirl says
Lovely pics!!! & even yummier looking dish 🙂 Perfect time of year to have stumbled on this pin- thanks so much for sharing
Eyecandypopper says
Thank you! My pleasure! I hope you get a chance to try it out, it’s so simple but delicious 🙂