Is there an easy way to grate carrots??

garina · Post by **garina** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:30 pm

After making Sheila's recipe for Paleo muffins, and I've already had 3, maybe 4, in two days, I plan on making more for a reserve to keep in the freezer. They are a real treat. But, shredding carrots is a hassle, at least, the way I've been doing it. I got DH to do it once, only once.

He shredded the carrots with my old Tupperware green shredder (anyone have one of those) ... he wasn't happy ... but he didn't scrap his fingers with it like I do every time I use it, but I'm sure I won't get his help with that anymore! So, I need to buy some small automatic shredding thing, if there is such a thing that will shred.

I've heard the Ninja blender from Amazon is powerful, but I don't know if it will shred. I do have an old fashioned Hamilton blender that won't hardly mash a banana! That's out.

I know it's time for a new processor/blender/chopper of some kind, but just don't know what to buy. I would be grateful for any ideas, or any hints on shredding carrots with less finger scrapes.

Thanks.

garina

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:09 pm

HI Garina,
I have a food processor with a grating disc. It shreds them instantly. I shred the apples the same way for this recipe. I depend a great deal on my food processor, which is ancient by the way. I'm probably due for a new one too.

Carol

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:38 pm

Garina,
I also have an ancient food processor which I used for the grating. My son bought the ninja blender, but I didn't like it. Smoothies aren't smooth, and, since I need the fiber totally "smoothed" so I can tolerate some fruit, I invested in a vitamix from ebay. The older ones,(if you find a good one), are all stainless steel and can do a LOT of stuff. The smoothies are the best ever. Square trade offers a great warranty for 2 years, which I think is renewable.
But they don't grate.

There are several inexpensive food processors which grate efficiently. Mine does, though it is SO noisy it shakes the house.
Also, there are plenty of really good hand graters, some of which are combined with mandolins for both grating and slicing.

I seem to be accumulating cooking implements like crazy.

LindyLou · Post by **LindyLou** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:00 am

Garina, why not use a cheese grater? You know, the ones they use in restaurants. I purchased one for the Pampered Chef and it came with two barrels....l one for fine and one for course. All you Do is turn the crank. Your fingers never come close to the actual mechanism.

Linda

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:08 am

Try cooking the carrots a little to soften them before grating.

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:35 am

Garina, you can use a very sharp cheese grater or a food processor. Once you grate with a food processor, it is hard to go back to hand grating. I had to buy a new processor recently and got another Cuisinart. It is so reliable and my old one was so old when it broke that I can't remember when I bought it.

Love those morning glory muffins.

Sheila W

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:49 am

I'm off to buy a new food processor today! My daughter and I love the paleo muffins, and they are nearly gone. I keep hearing about the morning glory muffins. Will someone please post that recipe for us? Thank you! Kathy

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 12:47 pm

I posted the recipe on another thread but I can't remember which one. They are from the cookbook "Paleo Comfort Foods" by Julie and Charles Mayfield. There are some awfully good recipes in the book.

MORNING GLORY MUFFINS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a standard sized muffin pan (12 C)
2 1/2 C almond flour I used 2+ C not the full 2 1/2 C
1 T cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 C carrots, grated
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1 C shredded coconut
1 C raisins (or dates or chopped nuts)
3 lg eggs
2 T honey (optional) I added the honey
1/2 C coconut oil or avocado oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add the carrots, apple, coconut and raisins (or nuts) and combine well.
In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, honey, oil and vanilla together.
Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well. The batter will be very thick.
Spoon into muffin pan and place on middle or upper rack of the oven for 20-30 minutes. If you use a larger muffin pan bake 40-50 min.
When a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean, the muffins are done. Cool in pan for 8-10 min and then remove to rack to finish cooling.
These freeze very well. Defrost in the microwave.
Enjoy

Sheila W

garina · Post by **garina** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:37 pm

Carol, I am hoping I can find a small food processor that will grate carrots. I have seen some large ones, but I have a small kitchen and absolutely no room for anything large. I will check it out. Thanks.

Lesley, I also have heard that small appliances can be noisy, and I've already lost some hearing along with tinnitus, so I probably would wear ear plugs whenever using anything noisy. I know my blender, it being a very old one, is horribly noisy, so I always put a thick towel under it, and that helps, but I'm going for the ear plugs. Thanks for the advice about Vitamix.

Linda, I'm not familiar with the type of cheese grater you mentioned, but I will check out the Pampered Chef products. Thanks.

Charlotte, I am learning so much here. I hadn't thought about cooking the carrots a bit first. Good advice.

Sheila, Thanks for the tip on Cuisinart. I will look for a small one that grates. And, thanks so much for that great muffin recipe. I think I'm going to check out your cookbook, also.

Kathy, I think the Morning Glory Muffins and Paleo Muffins are the same. Sheila, correct me if that is wrong.

Thank you.

garina

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:45 pm

Besides my large food processor I also have a small older model Black and Decker Handy Chopper. I often start out with the small one and end up getting out my big one.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-HC30 ... B000I0DV6W

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:11 pm

My fault for calling the muffins by two different names. They are called Morning Glory Muffins in the cook book and calling them paleo muffins is just shorthand. There are very popular regular (non GF) muffins called Morning Glory muffins and the ones in the paleo book are a take off on those.

The 9 cup Cuisinart is pretty quiet and I know there are smaller models that come with the grater and slicer attachments. If you are only grating 2-3 carrot,s a stainless steel cheese grater would work very well. Make sure you get a good quality grater or it won't work properly and you will be back where you started.

Sheila W

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:09 pm

Thanks for reporting the recipe and all of the tips. My SO gave me his unused Kitchen Aid mixer. Yay! I also found the Cuisinart food 9 cup processor on sale now for $69.00 at Macys which is a great price. It's available online according to my flyer. The 4 cup is also available for $65.00. That one would be easy, IMO. I debated which is more useful, but I bought the 9 cup model. I am going to experiment a bit with the muffins because I think my daughter, Katie, and I will eat them regularly. I added some canned pumpkin to my last batch, and they were wonderful! Kathy

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:42 pm

Sorry - it is 7 cups. I used it tonight. It shredded carrots, appples, and potatoes with ease! Kathy

garina · Post by **garina** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:34 am

Kathy,

Sounds like you got a really good price on your 7 cup Cuisinart. I checked Amazon, and they run approximately $100. I will keep checking.

Sheila,

I like what you said about your 9 cup, it being quiet. That is a plus.

Thanks all,

garina

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:10 pm

Yes, it is a four day sale at Macys - with shipping it said it was approximately $84.14 (online) - Id number 101927. I used it yesterday, and it was very quiet. I can use it to slice, chop, grate, and knead bread. It's wonderful and, while larger, not too large for my counter since preparing food is so very important to all of us! I'm very happy I bought it.