Chef Robin’s Honey Cinnamon Glazed Carrots

Hello daughters of grace!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!  I really am crazy busy here in Europe and any relaxing moments are spent napping, trying to catch up with the family or running my household - from a different continent!  I've been facetiming with my son, working on his FAFSA.  Moms, you know this is hard so pray for me.  My baby is going to college next year.  I AM NOT READY!!  It’s good for me though.  It’s hard to be so far away and feel so distant during such an important time in his life.  

I write this from Cortina, Italy.  Having just left Switzerland I've now experienced four countries, Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.  During the World Cup races I prepare the teams meals on our Mobile Kitchen, which is an amazing 18 wheeler with a complete kitchen and lounge area inside.  It’s quite “posh”, if I must say so myself!  I’ll post pictures so you can all see my pretty truck.

Europe is amazing.  It’s a beautiful and full of glorious snowy mountains.  As I drive around or get an occasional walk in I always think about God and how glorious He is.  I think about how He created those mountains to stay put and how He, in all His creative power, made them so beautiful.

Amos 4:13 (ESV) says “For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth - the LORD, the God of hosts, is His name.”  

While I was leaving Switzerland I stopped for gas and a very nice young man helped me.  I wondered if the people here are so used to the mountains that they stop seeing them.  I expressed to him how beautiful they were.  His response was, he wants to see America.  He doesn't really see the mountains anymore.  How many of us do that?  We get so caught up in the business of life that we bypass the beauty and never stop to breathe in the air, smell the flowers or look at the mountains?  Time to stop and thank the Lord for all He has done!  After that meeting I made a point to look out my window while driving and look at the scenery.  I even stopped and took a few pictures.

My job here as the chef is to not only prepare meals that will fuel the athletes for training and races but to give them food that reminds them of home.  Food that encourages their hearts while they are travelling for such a long period.  Many of them have been away from home since before Thanksgiving.  My job is to bring home to them and I take great pride in that!  The food in Europe is very different from what we eat so I try to bring them a piece of America, literally!  There are a lot of breads, meats (sausage and salami) and cheese here which is nice but sometimes you just want to taste home.  The team loves spaghetti with meat sauce (bolognese), chili and anything Mexican!  The favorite of all the teams has to be breakfast for dinner.  Give them pancakes, bacon and eggs and they are happy!!

Recipe time!!!  For Christmas I made the team an American soul food Christmas.  Turkey, ham, cheese and macaroni :-) , southern style green beans, glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, peach cobbler and apple crisp.  Everyone was full and enjoyed!  One of the favorites was the glazed carrots.  Such an easy recipe that I decided to share it with you.  It can be used for a holiday or as an everyday side dish.  I do hope you enjoy!

Before I forget, please check out the amazing article written about me in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Isn't our God GOOD?!!!

In His Service,

Robin

Chef Robin’s Honey Cinnamon Glazed Carrots

1 1/2 pounds carrots, chopped
1/4 cup honey (or brown sugar)
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp butter
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste)

Directions:

1. Boil carrots in boiling water, covered, until almost done, they should be slightly firm.
2. Combine honey and water in a saucepan.  Add carrots.
3. Bring to boil and reduce by half until thick and syrupy, about 15 minutes.
4. Add butter, mix until melted.
5. Stir gently and cook on low for about 5 minutes.