Cumin Roasted Carrots

I seriously think that if one more person tries to talk to me about Tangerine Tango I’m going to punch someone in the face. Probably myself.

Orange is my favorite color. It has been for a long time. Definitely for a lot longer than the Tangerine Tangos of the world have been around. And I kind of feel like somebody’s trying to sell me something that I’ve already been buying for years.

It’s like that indie band that you’ve been loyally following since they performed their first show in the garage across the street.

You bought their CDs. You rocked their bumper stickers. You were there for every live performance.

That’s me and Orange.

Then one day, Simon Cowell discovers Orange when his limousine breaks down across the street from their garage.

All of a sudden, Orange is all over iTunes. Orange is doing Pepsi commercials. There’s even a tawdry story on the cover of The Enquirer about Orange cheating on Red with Yellow.

The final straw comes when you’re taking out the trash one day and your slightly gooberish neighbor approaches sporting an ‘Orange Live! The Truly Colorful Tour’ tee shirt.

M.:  Hey, guy! How’s it going today?

Slightly Gooberish Neighbor:  Howdy, M.! Have you thought about trimming that cactus in your back yard? (points already detracted for saying ‘howdy’ and for telling me to trim a cactus with a straight face)

M.:  Well, no, I haven’t. But I guess I can look into it…

Slightly Gooberish Neighbor:  By the way, have you heard of this amazing band called Orange? Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and The Today Show all told me to go out and buy their albums because they’re the next big thing, so of course I rushed right out! They’re the newest band on the scene, don’t ya know?

M.:  Well, actually, I’ve been following Orange for years and…

Slightly Gooberish Neighbor:  That can’t be possible! We all know that nothing exists until it appears on The Today Show or is discovered by Simon Cowell!

M.:  Well…

Slightly Gooberish Neighbor:  Gotta jet! I’m on my way to a viewing party – Orange is performing on Ellen today! Don’t forget to trim that cactus! Later!

Orange is my color. Orange has always been my color and it will always be my color, even when it’s reduced to appearing on Celebrity Fit Club next to Chartreuse and Midnight Blue.

So today it’s some very, very orange carrots. Deliciously roasted with fresh onion and ground cumin. You didn’t really think it was going to be something with tangerines in it, did you?

Cumin Roasted Carrots

2 lbs. carrots, peeled, ends removed, chopped into 2″ pieces vertically on the diagonal
1 large yellow onion, peeled, chopped into large chunks
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp. + tsp. cumin, ground
1 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
t tsp. New Mexican red chile, dried, ground (You may substitute ground cayenne chile here, or simply omit the chile powder if you prefer less heat.)
1/2 tsp. sea salt, finely ground
1/2 tsp. oregano, whole, dried, preferably Mexican

Preheat oven to 400°.

Place the carrot and onion pieces in a large bowl and toss quickly with your hands. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, cumin, black pepper, chile powder, salt and oregano. Pour the seasoned oil mixture over the vegetables and toss well so that all of the vegetable pieces are lightly coated. Pour the contents onto a rimmed sheet pan, spreading evenly and covering with any remaining oil that may have settled at the bottom of the bowl. Roast for 20 minutes, remove, quickly and carefully toss the vegetable pieces, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

YIELD:  approximately 6-8 servings