Dear Diary,
It was such a beautiful morning in the Whispering Woods. I decided to get up early, do my chores, make a bunny breakfast and then harvest my carrot crop and store what I didn’t use for winter. I learned some interesting things about carrots from my gardening book last evening.
Did you know carrots were originally purple?
The first cultivated carrots were purple and yellow. The familiar orange variety was developed in the Netherlands during the 17th century.
Carrots contain beta-carotene
This compound gives carrots their orange color and is converted into vitamin A in the body, which is essential for good vision and immune health.
Carrots are mostly water
About 88% of a carrot is made up of water, making them a hydrating and low-calorie snack.
Carrots can grow in space
Carrots have been successfully grown on the International Space Station, showing their potential as a food source for space exploration.
Carrots come in a variety of colors
In addition to orange, carrots can be found in purple, red, yellow, and even white varieties, each with its own unique flavor and nutritional profile.
The longest carrot ever grown
The longest carrot on record measured over 20 feet (6.245 meters), grown by a gardener in the UK. It was recognized in 2016 as the world’s longest carrot by the Guinness World Records. Super Carrots! That wouldn’t even fit in my bunny house!
Even if you not a carrot lover, ask you mom to make you these
This is a great kid-friendly carrot recipe for Carrot Cake Muffins! These muffins are sweet, moist, and packed with flavor, making them a fun and healthy treat for kids. Here’s a simple recipe:
Carrot Cake Muffins
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups finely grated carrots
- ½ cup applesauce (or crushed pineapple for added sweetness)
- ½ cup raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease it.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir in the grated carrots and applesauce.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. If using, fold in the raisins/chocolate chips and nuts.
- Fill muffin cups: Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Optional: Add a cream cheese frosting on top for extra sweetness!
These muffins are a fun way to sneak in some veggies while keeping kids happy with a delicious treat.
Tell mom Benny recommened them!
You can learn much more about Benny and his Whispering Woods friends while reading their exciting adventure stories at:
https://bennysbraveadventures.com
Sing their songs, too:
youtube.com/@bennysbraveadventures
Read their books: