Veggie Month: Carrots

Since my backyard carrots won't be mature by month's end:

I purchased a bag at the grocery store.

And because carrots are a common vegetable, I didn't want to simply steam them, or dip them in ranch dressing.

So I shredded one cup, and added it to Duncan Hines dark chocolate fudge brownie mix.

The result is something like chocolate-carrot cake. Perhaps the extra moisture from the carrots made them less fudgey than usual. And I know what's usual for this brownie mix; it's my party dessert staple.

(These would be even better with chocolate chips.

And, while I'm at it, topped with ice cream, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.)

Veggie Month: Red Cabbage

While tempted to count the dill pickles I had at Elijah's this afternoon as today's vegetable, I pushed ahead and cooked a head of red cabbage from my vegetable drawer.

When I think of red cabbage, I think of "A Christmas Story." I have no idea if this recipe is in fact what was prepared in the movie, but it was tasty.

I've cooked red cabbage before, with just butter, sugar, and balsamic vinegar. This new recipe required more ingredients, but it wasn't any more difficult. Although next time I'd try it with apple cider vinegar to complement the diced apple.

As Ralphie's mother said, "You love red cabbage."

I do.