Recipe: Whiskey-Glazed Carrots & Apples

Whiskey-Glazed Carrots & Apples

Carol Garfield

Ingredients

Produce

• 2–3 lbs carrots, peeled and cut on an angle into 2–3” pieces

• 4 apples, peeled and sliced into thin half-circles

The Glaze

• 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey  

• 3/4 stick butter, cut into pieces

• 1/2 cup brown sugar (adjust based on preferred sweetness)  

Instructions

1. Prep the Dish

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.

• Coat the bottom of an 8×12-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Par-Boil the Carrots

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the carrots and cook until just tender (usually 5–7 minutes depending on thickness). You want them slightly resistant to a fork, not mushy.

• Drain well and transfer them to the prepared baking dish.

• Add the sliced apples to the dish and toss lightly to distribute them evenly among the carrots.

3. Make the Glaze

• In a saucepan over medium heat, pour in the whiskey. Let it cook for 30 seconds to evaporate the harsh edge of the alcohol.

• Add the butter pieces; stir continuously until melted.

• Add the brown sugar and stir until the mixture is fully combined, smooth, and glossy.

4. Bake & Serve

• Pour the glaze evenly over the carrot and apple mixture.

• Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes. The mixture should be bubbly and the carrots fully tender.

• Tip: Stir the mixture gently halfway through baking to ensure the glaze coats everything evenly.

💡 Chef's Tips for Success

• Apple Selection: Honeycrisp or Fuji will add sweetness and hold their shape well.

Where to Eat at Chelsea Mass District Court

Jury Duty. 

I had jury duty at Chelsea District Court. A great stop before court is Katz Bakery where I got a baker’s dozen of hot fresh bagels, and a side of cream cheese. There is a nice Dunkin’ just across the street from the courthouse. 

I was there a little early, because doors open at 8:30 AM. You can’t get in before then, the doors are locked. So I took a walk around Chelsea Square and learned a lot about the history.

Lobster Roll in-a-box from The Lobster Pound at Manomet Point

The Lobster Pound at Manomet Point

Outdoor Dining In Massachusetts

 

Prince Restaurant

Route One

Saugus, Mass

East Bay Grille

Plymouth, Mass

Rye Tavern

Plymouth, MA

North Conway and Woodstock NH School Vacation Week Review

My wife Carol and I had the experience of heading up to North Conway, NH during School Vacation Week.

We experienced a few days with family. We had fun skiing, exploring the seasonal Ice Castles, and discovered some great places to eat.

SKIING


We put three kids, 4, 7, and 9, into the Cranmore Mountain Resort Ski School. They all loved it and were skiing up and down as much and as long as they could.





OUT TO EAT
May Kelly's Cottage North Conway

I love a good turkey dinner, and May Kelly's Cottage had one of the best turkey dinners that I've ever had.

Zip's Pub and Grill at Cranmore Mountain Resort North Conway

The hand cut potato fries were amazing. It's hard to believe, but these hand cut potato fries were some of the best I've ever had. I was on a roll.



Also, the boys loved the giant pretzels. If you don't like a lot of salt, you might have to brush some off. Good local beer list here and a huge fireplace to warm up in front of after a day of skiing.



Woodstock Inn Brewery Woodstock

20 plus years ago we began with a seven-barrel system, added a 30-barrel production facility and lab that visitors will discover on the premises today. Visit the brewery, take a tour, eat, or stay with us at the Inn

Here I ordered adult grilled cheese which is made with brewery spent grain bread, Pigs Ear Cheddar, Pecanwood smoked bacon and tomato. Guess what? It was one of the best grilled cheese ever.

ICE CASTLES
Ice Castles, Woodstock New Hampshire

Ice Castles is an award-winning frozen attraction located in six cities across North America. The experience is built using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains and much more.

AIRBNB
Airbnb: The Treehouse (Luxury Home in N. Conway/Cranmore)

This was the first time I'd stayed in an Airbnb. Everyone in the family had their own room, and Carol and I had the Yves Saint Laurent LOVE room!

Perfect vacation paradise. Walking distance to Cranmore Mountain, North Conway Village, attached to Whitaker Woods. The main floor's open layout, wood walls and beamed ceilings, 2 gorgeous stone fireplaces - perfect spot for appetizers & drinks while watching the sunset! 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, full basement, washer/dryer (linens/towels included). New (seasonal) heated pool! (New) shuffleboard & games for kids, cable...kitchen is brilliantly equipped (enough to host a big Thanksgiving dinner!)

Not on Airbnb yet? Join Airbnb via this link and you'll get $55 off your first trip—and once you complete your reservation, I’ll get up to $30.

The Best Sweet Brisket Recipe featuring Ginger Ale

I've finally found the best brisket recipe. It combines Tori Avey's holiday brisket, with a couple of recipes from my mom's Jewish cookbooks.

I've modified the recipe in a few ways and cooked it in a slow cooker.

Here are the ingredients:

3 lbs brisket. We found a reasonable size in Wegmans.
extra virgin olive oil

1 large white onion, sliced and diced
1 handful of baby carrots
1 package of cut up celery hearts

14.10 oz POMI Strained Tomatoes
Crushed garlic
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups, or more, Ginger Ale
Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, to taste
Salt and pepper

1. Season the brisket with salt and pepper to taste. Sear the brisket until brown in a fry pan using olive oil. Then remove from pan.
2. Saute onion
3. Add carrots and celery

4. Pour half of the tomatoes into the slow cooker
5. Place the brisket into the slow cooker
6. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over brisket in the slow cooker

7. Cover and cook for 8 HOURS on LOW.

8. Allow the brisket to cool, then place in the refrigerator over-night.
9. Slice the brisket against the grain, and place the brisket back in its liquid. Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour.
10. Place back in refrigerator, after cooled.

11. Re-heat brisket to serve.

Sylvester's Restaurant, Northampton, MA

Sylvester's Restaurant
111 Pleasant St
Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

American Restaurant · Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant · Coffee Shop

Bagel & Brew, Lenox, MA

Bagel & Brew, Lenox, MA

Classic New York-style bagels with a range of toppings & spreads, plus draft brews & a beer garden.

Address: 18 Franklin St, Lenox, MA 01240

We weren't there in the morning for the bagel part, but we did enjoy a nice cold beer outside in the beer garden on a sunny afternoon. There was live music too. Really good live music. You could tell, the guitar player was selling THREE CD's. ;-)

This is a great place to bring kids. Lots of things on the menu that they'd enjoy.



Bar inside.



Beer garden outside.

The Sacred Cod at the Chatham Bars Inn (Cape Cod)

At The Sacred Cod, Cape Cod charm and sophistication meet in this classic upscale tavern. Our innovative menu encourages our guest to explore the regions finest fisheries, farms and foragers including produce from the Chatham Bars Inn farm. The warm, cozy bar an extensive craft beer menu and barrel-aged cocktails showcasing products from the region’s best brewers and distillers.

Address:
297 Shore Road Chatham, MA 02633

Phone:
1.800.527.4884

Cold Beer:


Cape Cod Mussels
White Wine Broth, Fine Herbs, Grilled
Country Bread $16

ICELAND: The Best Places to Eat in Reykjavik

We had an amazing trip to Iceland and were not disappointed in the food. We had great meals everywhere, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Here's a list of places we ate and enjoyed. All good!



The Laundromat Cafe
Great for breakfast! It was so good, we went here twice. In addition to the breakfast, the coffee was delicious.







My cousin said that these were the best pancakes she's ever had in her life!





From their website:

We opened in 2004 in Elmegade 15 in Nørrebro, Copenhagen.

The idea was to combine laundry and socializing in nice, comfortable surroundings where you could eat, drink, read, do your laundry and browse the Internet.

Then we opened some more ;)!

2006 Århusgade 38 Østerbro Copenhagen.

2011 Austurstræti 9 in Reykjavik Iceland.

2011 Gammel Kongevej 96 Frb Copenhagen.

We offer a varied menu off homemade food, cakes, juices, milkshakes, coffee, tea, wine and around 40 kinds of beer, all served with a smile.

BRAUD & CO BAKERY

Everything fresh baked and amazing!





Hverfisgata 12


Image: Courtesy hverfisgata12



Casual pizza place. Famouse for their locationa dn not having a sign. We heard that they secretly opened up, and people started coming to them, and they became popular. We were lucky to get a provate room for our table of eight.

I went upstairs to the MIKKELLER & FRIENDS bar, to chat with the bartender and grab a beer from their amazing selection, and bring it back to the restaurant.

From their website:

Located in one of the most iconic buildings of downtown Reykjavik, Hverfisgata 12 restaurant & bar is an eclectic mix of American rustic, old carnival and part museum, designed by renowned set designer Hálfdán Pedersen.

MIKKELLER & FRIENDS - REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND



Great beer bar! Really fun, Came here twice and would have made it three days, but they weren't open in the afternoon on our last day.

The English Pub



My friend who has been to Iceland every year for hte past 15 years told me, “You MUST go and spin the BEER Wheel.” Well, according to my calculation, it wasn’t worth it for us to try. ;-)

My friends and I gave the Guinness a thumbs up, then we switched to Gull. I din't have a bad beer in Iceland.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur - Best Hot Dog in Iceland
Tryggvatagata 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland






Next door to Raddison Blu 1919. The way to order here is to get a one with everything, which means a pork, bef and lamb hot dog with onions, sauted onions, ketchup, sweet mustard and mayo relish. You can give your index finger a twirl when ordering. There's also a special that includes soda, but I don't drink soda. There is always a line here and people are eating hot dogs morning, noon and night.

Fun!

Jamie’s Italian

New restaurant by Jamie Oliver. Tourists love it which requires you to make a reservation in advance.

Good Italian.













I had Icelandic Cod, which was served in a spicy red sauce. Everyone in my group loved what they had. We again got a private room.

STEIKHÚSIÐ — THE STEAK HOUSE
Tryggvagata 4-6 101 Reykjavík
Tel: +354 561 1111





Opening hours:
Sunday - Thursday 17 to 22
Friday - Saturday 17 to 23


We ate here. Excellent steak. Seriously. So good. The unique thing for us to see on the menu was a steak choice of LAMB, BEEF, or HORSE.

The original Toll House cookie recipe

The original Toll House cookie recipe
via Maria Stephanos



3 1/8 cups of King Arthur all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon of hot water to dissolve baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 cups of Crisco shortening
1 1/8 cups of sugar
1 1/8 cups of brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

3 eggs

Chocolate chips
Walnuts optional

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-13 minutes

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.

Beat Crisco shortening, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Ribs with Lord Hobo Brewing Company Glorious Pale Ale

Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Ribs with Lord Hobo Brewing Company Glorious Pale Ale



Ribs
Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue Sauce
Lord Hobo Brewing Glorious beer

Place ribs in slow cooker
Cover ribs w/ Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue Sauce
Add 1/2 can Lord Hobo Brewing Glorious
Set Slow Cooker to 4 hours on High
Remove and place on foil lined baking tray
Baste w/ more sauce
Broil 5-15 minutes

The Holy Donut, Portland Maine

Drop Scale and Recipe App

Note: Photos shot with Samsung #NX1 in AUTO mode. Buy on Amazon.com (affiliate link):
Disclosure: Samsung supplied the Samsung NX1 28.2 MP Wireless SMART Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm f/2.0-2.8 "S" Lens to me on loan to play with and requested a short write-up and/or photos shared with the #NX1 hashtag.

[Video] Carol and Steve: Baking Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Above is the video Carol and I made of Baking Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins. We followed the recipe we got from WCVB's Maria Stephanos when she interviewed the original baker. I've modified the order here so that the ingredient list matches the baking steps.

These muffins came out exactly like I remember them. Other recipes might have been on the web before this one, but this is the best Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin recipe!

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

◦ 1/2 cup butter
◦ 1 cup sugar
◦ 2 eggs
◦ 1 teaspoon vanilla

◦ 2 cups flour (unsifted, blend of bread and pastry)
◦ 2 teaspoons baking powder
◦ 1/2 teaspoon salt

◦ 1/2 cup milk

◦ 2 1/2 cups blueberries (1/2 cup mashed, 2 cups floured)

◦ 2 teaspoons sugar (for tops)


On low speed, cream butter with sugar until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time and mix until blended.

Add vanilla.

Sift dry ingredients; add to eggs-and-butter mixture, alternating with milk.

Mash 1/2 cup of berries and stir into mixture by hand.

Flour the remaining 2 cups of whole berries, and stir in by hand.

Grease muffin tins well with butter; grease the top surface of the pans as well. Pile mixture high in each muffin cup, and sprinkle the sugar over tops.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

THE RESULT:

KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer Puts on a Show

Note: Photos shot with Samsung #NX1 in AUTO mode.

Buy on Amazon.com (affiliate link):


Disclosure:
Samsung supplied the Samsung NX1 28.2 MP Wireless SMART Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm f/2.0-2.8 "S" Lens to me on loan to play with and requested a short write-up and/or photos shared with the #NX1 hashtag.

ROW 34 is a Fantastic Oyster Bar in Fort Point, Boston

Note: Photos shot with Samsung #NX1 in AUTO mode.

Buy on Amazon.com (affiliate link):


Disclosure: Samsung supplied the Samsung NX1 28.2 MP Wireless SMART Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm f/2.0-2.8 "S" Lens to me on loan to play with and requested a short write-up and/or photos shared with the #NX1 hashtag.

Review: Earls Kitchen + Bar at Assembly Row in Somerville

A great crepé, amazing ahi tuna, and standby coffee on Santa Monica

Where to grab a cold beer and a nice meal in Austin Texas