Orange-Maple Carrots

Here’s a side dish that would be great as a potluck offering or as part of a holiday meal in order to free up some precious stove space. These sweet carrots make great baby food, too. My youngest ate these nearly every day for a week, and I was glad to have something in the fridge already cooked and ready to feed him.

Prep time 15 minutes
Serves 6

11/2 pounds (680 g) carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
1/2 teaspoon grated zest and juice from 1 large orange
1 tablespoon (20 g) pure maple syrup
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

1 Put the carrot pieces into a 2- or 3-quart (1.9 or 2.8 liter) slow cooker. Add 1/2 teaspoon of the orange zest and the orange juice to the slow cooker, as well as the maple syrup and pepper flakes.

2 Cover and cook for 5 to 6 hours on low, until carrots are tender but not mushy.