Classic Carrot & Raisin Salad Tossed with Honey & Sesame Dressing

Know what you eat: Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision.

A fact: Cooking carrots actually raises the nutritional benefits. The fiber in carrots can trap the beta carotene, making it difficult for your body to extract. By cooking them slightly, you free the beta-carotene, from the fiber, which allows your body to absorb it better. Eating only a half-cup serving per day will give you more than the recommended dosage of beta-carotene. This Classic salad goes to directly to Sudeshna's Salad Carnival ; Divya's Show me your Salad , PJ's No Cook Event, & Priya's Cooking with seeds : Sesame & Sanjana's Wear your Food Event. & Suma's Healing Food Carrot.

Ingredients
4 C shredded carrots, slightly steamed.
1/2 C (a handful) raisins, add as per taste
Cilantro (optional)


Dressing:
2 tsp Sesame Seeds
1/4 lemon, juiced
1 orange, juiced
2 Tbsp Honey, substitute Light brown sugar
1 Tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
A dash of salt & pepper





Method:
1. Prepare dressing in a separate bowl, mix thoroughly. Keep aside.
2. After shredding, combine slightly steamed / microwave carrot & raisin well, using your fingers to toss and coat the carrots thoroughly, in the dressing. 
3. Transfer to serving dish. As the salad sits, the raisins will plump a bit and carrots will take on citrus taste. 
4. Enjoy this Classic Carrot & Raisin Salad.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving	%DV
Serving Size 330g
Recipe makes 2 servings
Calories 267
Calories from Fat 79	30%
Total Fat 9.05g	11%
Saturated Fat 1.28g	5%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 160mg	7%
Potassium 882mg	25%
Total Carbs 47.73g	13%
Dietary Fiber 8.5g	28%
Sugars 34.44g	23%
Protein 3.43g	5%

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Roasted Lentil Vegetable & Fruit Fusion Salad/Snack

Know What U Eat: Because of its low glycemic index channa dal is very good for people with diabetes, and its power packed with protein for all. In all just the right food for summer lethargy. This goes to Susan's MLLA23 event.. & to Funandfood cafe for Magic Bullet Recipe contest.

It requires a great deal of patience (specially with kids) a little creativity, and a constant thinking process for varieties one can make from one single food group. Lately we are hooked up with roasted channa dal, moongdal (lentils) namkeen available ready-made in the market, the same which we get in deepfried version as well, from one of the well known brand. And we all know its a good anytime snack with/without tea. Here's the twist, to make it more nutritious, eye-appealing and less time consuming quick after school crunchy snack for my kids, I added sprouts, diced apples, grapes, tomatoes, and a variety of other things to make it zesty and extremely yummy and super nutritious. Imagine this along with a glass of fresh fruit juice (orange-pineapple-strawberry) with a secret ingredient coming soon in my next post.

Ingredients:

1 C Roasted channa dal (available in Indian grocery store)

1 C Roasted moong dal

1 small red onion, diced

1 small cucumber, diced

1 tomato, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 C of mixed fresh fruits ( apple, grapes, pomegranate, pineapple)

Hand-full of sprouts

Some Cilantro, chopped

Lemon juice, acc. to taste

1 tsp of Chaat masala powder

1/4 tsp of red chilli powder (optional)

Method:

1. Chop all the veggies and fruits and keep it ready.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add roasted dals (lentils), and add these veggies and fruits along with sprouts, cilantro, lemon juice, chaat masala, red chilli powder, and toss it very well.

3. Serve in individual bowls immediately.

Note: These readymade roasted dal are already spiced with red chilli powder & salt so

add them only if needed.

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Mixed Berries and Pineapple Smoothie

Know What U Eat: What if you were told you weren`t getting enough cellular oxidation or free radical protection, despite consuming all the high antioxidant foods and some of the best antioxidant supplements available? Would you wonder how that could be, or would you simply ignore it? Don`t ignore it, read on. How it could be, according to many health experts, is that your glutathione levels are too low. This is a very common situation with all the oxidation stress our toxic environment provides, along with a little help from our own personal stress. Moreover, the air we breathe is loaded with toxins and heavy metals as well as in many of the foods we eat, and any pharmaceuticals that may have been taken. All of these create more free radicals while burdening our bodies with toxic material. Add this to the immune system`s damage from psychological stress with our modern lifestyle and the madness around us. Well then, it is amazing that many of us are still walking and talking! Well, we all know the vital key to maximise antioxidant activities for cells are present in fresh fruits and berries, which help preventing diseases and scientists believe help repair and/or prevent the stress of oxidation, a process that occurs naturally during normal cell function. Do remember, smaller the procedure of consuming fruits, higher is the antioxidants we get. Right now enjoy this perfectly made by my dear H, mixed berries & pineapple smoothie, perfect to beat the heat...sending this heavenly smoothie to Priti's His Cooking Event..  to Divya's Show Me Your Smoothie..and Natasha's 5 star Makeover

Ingredients:

1C Mixed Berries, fresh/frozen

1/2 C Fresh Pineapple

1/2 C Frozen Probiotic Non-fat yogurt

1 C Milk
1 small banana,

Sugar/Honey or Maple syrup if required

Ice Chunks as needed

Method:

Blend together berries, banana, pineapple,frozen yogurt, ice chunks, milk and honey or maple syrup if required into thick smoothie, serve chilled immediately.

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