No, this is not the comedian Carrot Top’s signature chimichurri recipe. Instead, this recipe is made with actual carrot tops! Carrots don’t typically come with tops, but they usually do if you buy an organic bunch from the store or farmer’s market. And now you have something to make with those lovely, vibrantly green tops.

Chimichurri, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this lovely condiment, is a flavorful herb sauce with roots in both Uruguay and Argentina. It is commonly made with flat-leaf parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, chili flakes, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt. It is classically served with beef, but you can serve it with chicken, seafood, pork, beans, eggs, or vegetables. There are, of course, variations depending on the region, and then you have to factor in secret family recipes. You can make your own version with a plethora of greens, but the flavor may change slightly from the original recipe.

Carrot tops have a strong flavor that is somewhat bitter, so you need other ingredients to balance them. Just make sure to remove the delicate carrot leaves and stems from the thicker central ones. You can discard those thicker, central stems. We added cilantro to help balance the intense carrot greens, in addition to dried oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic, and a handful of other seasonings. One pro tip that we will give you is to let the minced garlic sit in the vinegar for a few minutes. That will mellow the intense garlicky flavor, and that is a culinary tip from us to you. Now go out there and make some chimichurri!

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Every year, there is a long list of things to be grateful for, and that is especially true at Thanksgiving. Perhaps you got a new job or your sister agreed to babysit your child once a week so that you and your partner can have date night. One of the things you can be thankful for is your health. 

It’s no secret that people tend to get a little carried away, to put it gently, at the Thanksgiving spread. By staying mindful of your health and making small tweaks, however, you can create a healthier Thanksgiving feast. Not only will your dishes be incredibly tasty, but they’ll pack some more nutritional benefits than your average options. Whether you are hosting, showing up, or assisting in the kitchen, use the following tips to make your holiday weekend a little healthier. 

Eat Slowly And Savor Each Bite

It is very easy to move quickly during the holiday excitement of Thanksgiving Day. During mealtime, you may shovel food into your face in order to make room on your plate for the items you didn’t get during your first pass of the spread. While eating, health experts recommend that you slow down and enjoy the food on your plate. It’s easy to fill up too quickly if you do not allow your body the chance to process the calories that you’re consuming. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize that you are full. Between bites, consider speaking with a loved one and talk about how great the meal is. Additionally, drink lots of water to aid the digestive process.

Moderate Your Meal

There is so much great food to enjoy! How do you only select a couple things to eat? Well, the good news is that you do not have to miss out on your favorite dishes. Instead, dietitians encourage you to help yourself to controlled portions that will discourage overeating. If you are hungry after you finish your plate, you can have an additional serving or two later. When you build your plate, include whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. Try to leave carb-heavy dishes alone, or grab small portions of them just to have a taste. If you want a specific dessert, avoid overeating sugary side dishes to control sugar intake. 

Enjoy A Little Exercise

Pre-meal walk, anyone? Physical activity on the big day of feasting is beneficial for your cardiovascular health, but also for digestion. Studies indicate that walking for 30 minutes after you eat can stimulate the digestive process. Between courses, try to go on a walk with your dog, do some light yoga, play catch outside, or do some squats. Walking for two to five minutes post-meal can help lower blood sugar levels. Exercise also burns calories, which you will consume in excess on Thanksgiving. 

Avoid Processed Foods

How easy and convenient is it to take shortcuts in the kitchen when cooking the Thanksgiving meal? By shortcuts, we mean purchasing store bought varieties of things that you can easily make at home. Instead of grabbing a can of cranberry sauce, make your own with real cranberries, fresh oranges, and a lot less sugar. Click here for a healthy cranberry sauce recipe. Even if you can’t make everything from scratch, do your best to avoid processed versions of things, as homemade elements are also more nutritious.

Consider How You Cook

When you prepare your turkey and sides, be mindful of the seasonings and cooking methods you use. Beware of excess amounts of sugar, salt, and oil, as they can negatively impact the food’s nutritional value. That is especially true if you struggle with high cholesterol, obesity, or diabetes. Instead of deep-frying your food, consider roasting, grilling, or boiling your food to keep the meal a little healthier. Lastly, set seasonings and sauces on the table so that people can manage their health to their desired level of comfort.

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Get ready to take your raw vegan diet to the next level with these homemade pumpkin rosemary crackers. They are savory, 100% raw vegan, and entirely gluten-free. They are nutrient-dense and satisfy your craving for salty snack, whether you are cleansing or not. Unlike most flax crackers, these are not dense; rather, they are quite light and crunchy. The level of crunchiness will depend on how long you keep them in the dehydrator. The thickness of the paste you smear on the dehydrator sheets will also dictate how long you have to dehydrate them.

Fall is pumpkin season, so we love to incorporate raw pumpkin whenever we get the chance. In addition to providing a warming flavor, pumpkin offers a lot of beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber, and other antioxidants. Two of the antioxidants in pumpkin, zeaxanthin and lutein, work to encourage healthier eyesight. If you do not have pumpkin, you can replace it with butternut squash, as it has a similar flavor, nutritional content, and texture.

Regarding the spices, this recipe calls for rosemary and thyme, which go great with the other ingredients. You can, however, use dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, or other Italian seasonings if you have those on hand. Make things easy for yourself, not more difficult. Lastly, this recipe does take some time to dehydrate (about 20 hours to be exact). Just make sure that you flip the flax mixture once about four to six hours into dehydrating to get an evenly crisp cracker.

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These zucchini noodles are great no matter what time of year it is. Enjoy them as a refreshing side while grilling in the summer or let them satiate you as a nutritious entree during the fall. The spiralized zucchini noodles are tossed with fresh herbs, garlic, seasonings, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil, in which they marinated for a little while before serving. Marinating the zoodles helps to intensify the flavors and make the raw vegan entree that much more enjoyable.

In order to make this recipe, you need a spiralizer. You can use a handheld one, but the type with the hand crank is a little more durable and reliable. Once you have your zucchini noodles, place them in a bowl and toss with a couple pinches of sea salt. Allow them to sit like that for about 30 minutes, as this process helps to draw out the water. Naturally, while the zoodles are sitting in that bowl, you can prepare the marinade by mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl. After those 30 minutes are up, drain the salty water and gently squeeze out the excess water from the zucchini noodles. Pat dry with paper towels.

Once your zucchini noodles are dry, you can transfer them to an airtight container with the marinade, mix well, and keep them in the refrigerator for an hour or so. You can also let them marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes and then enjoy. Although it may not seem like it, these noodles are actually quite delicious when served cold. You can even keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days!

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We couldn’t quite come up with the perfect name for this recipe. We were back and forth between “Garden Symphony Soup” and “Raw Vegan Italian Blender Soup,” and you can see which one won. For this reason, we went with the very “on the nose” name, as it best describes the recipe. It is a vibrant medley of the a great combination of raw vegan ingredients that swirl together in a symphony of flavor and nutrition!

Unlike a traditional gazpacho, this recipe contains zucchini, not cucumber. The zucchini effortlessly struts into the mix, blending beautifully with the sweetly tart and juicy tomato, which gives the soup its color. The red bell pepper also brings a subtle sweetness and refreshing element to this soup. One of the secret stars of this raw blender soup is the avocado, which helps to make it extra creamy and elegant. One could say that it elevates this simple dish to a decadent creation!

What makes this raw vegan soup Italian is the fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley twirl. They do a little herbaceous dance and complement the richness of the sun-dried tomatoes. Just make sure that the sun-dried tomatoes are purely dried, not soaking in oil and other seasonings. Finally, you have a single clove of garlic that enhances the overall melody of this soup with its bold and savory flavor. You also have the lemon juice, which brightens everything up like a surprise encore! Basically, this recipe is like a giant orchestra that crescendos as you eat it to give you as much flavor as possible. It is plant perfection!

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Sometimes, you just need a little heat to complement your sweet, or a little zest to impress. In case you are not familiar with seasoning your fruit, let this recipe be your entry point. Let us first explain that there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the refreshing flavors of fresh produce. Eating a juicy peach on a hot summer day is magical, as is enjoying a crisp apple in the middle of fall. Every now and again, though, you can elevate your fruit with just a touch of citrus and spice.

A lot of cultures salt their melons and add a squeeze of lemon or lime to bring out the flavor. This is a popular serving method for cantaloupe in Italy. For this chili lime watermelon snack, though, we get inspiration from Mexico, where putting chili powder, salt, lime, and other seasonings on fruit is very popular. It’s an ingenious hack that takes fruit, or vegetables, to a new level. Talk about adding a little pep to your step! Something about the spicy sweet flavor combination with a kiss of zesty lime makes you wanna get moving!

The great thing about watermelon is that it pairs beautifully with myriad flavors. You can add it to salsas, salads, and desserts. You can even grill it for a savory summer appetizer. This chili lime watermelon is just another way to be creative with one of summer’s most popular fruits. Plus, this recipe is much healthier than adding an overly salty, processed syrup to your fruit. Always go the healthier route if possible!

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If you can make a homemade rendition of a store bought classic, then you should absolutely do that. By making the homemade version, especially a salad dressing, you save yourself from all of the sodium, added flavors, unhealthy fats, and added sugars in store bought dressings. The great thing about this homemade Italian dressing is that it uses olive oil, not hydrogenated vegetable oils that increase the risk of heart disease. Add in the vinegar, garlic, and other seasonings and you have yourself an award-worthy dressing!

Unlike some other dressings that we’ve posted previously, this recipe does not require a blender. Grab the ingredients, a jar, and your best shaking skills, and you have yourself a dressing that is ready to go in five to 10 minutes. If using raw garlic cloves, we encourage you to use a microplane or garlic press. That will prevent your dressing from having large garlic chunks if your knife skills are not incredible. If you do not want to use fresh parsley, you can opt for dried parsley, but reduce the amount from 1/4 cup fresh parsley to 1 tablespoon dried parsley.

Unlike store bought dressing, this homemade Italian dressing does not keep fresh in the fridge for months, even years. This dressing will keep fresh in the fridge in an airtight jar or container for two to three days. It may separate, so make sure to give it a good shake to combine the ingredients before dressing your salad. You may love this version so much that you abandon store bought versions for good!

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We aren’t sure how much you use spice blends, but if you are like most people, chances are you go through them quickly. Maybe you get the crazy idea to try your hand at making your own spice blends for a change! Once you do that and realize the difference in flavor, you may never go back to store bought blends. Such is the case for this homemade chili seasoning, which is free of preservatives and additives.

Chili seasoning is not solely reserved for your favorite batch of chili; rather you can add it to salad dressings or other dishes. You most likely have the spices you need to make this chili seasoning in your spice cabinet or drawer. If ever you need to make more, you can buy more individual spices and create the spice blend. The great thing about that is that you will avoid the harmful ingredients, especially excess amounts of sodium, found in pre-mixed seasonings and packets.

A chili seasoning packet seems convenient, but not in regards to your health. In stores, a pre-mixed packet of chili seasoning can contain anti-caking agents and artificial flavors. In reality, chili seasoning typically consists of five to eight spices. Those spices usually include chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and a few others. You can always customize the ingredients to tailor the flavor to your liking. And as a final note, chili powder is not the same as chili seasoning. That’s that!

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It’s safe to say that almost every single person adores pasta. There are countless pasta recipes in existence, but most people tend to stick to simple marinara or Alfredo sauce recipes. In fact, most people purchase jarred versions of these classic sauces. You are better than jarred sauce, people! We understand the convenience of jarred sauce, but convenience doesn’t equal health. Jarred sauce contains an excessive amount of sodium, processed ingredients, and other things that have no place in your pasta sauce.

This recipe calls for unsalted tomato sauce from a jar, but it is simply pureed tomatoes. There are no added flavorings or anything else! Additionally, this recipe takes your taste buds down to the south to enjoy some classic cajun flavors. Cajun seasoning is yet another ingredient that contains copious amounts of sodium. One serving of cajun seasoning (about 1/4 teaspoon) contains 130 to 170 milligrams of sodium, depending on the variety. Why put your body at risk when you can easily make your own with spices you probably have in your spice rack?

That was a lot of information, and we apologize, but it was necessary. The great thing about this pasta is that you only need one pot. You don’t need a separate pot for cooking the pasta, one for the sauce, and a colander to strain the pasta. Just. One. Pot. That is the beauty of a one pot pasta recipe! You have minimal cleanup and the dried pasta noodles get to cook in the sauce, so they absorb all of the flavors as they cook. We hope you like this vegan cajun pasta!

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To buy at the store or to make at home? This is the age-old debate, and it gets even more trivial when you decide on spice blends. On the one hand, store bought spice blends are convenient and ready to go. On the other hand, store bought seasoning blends tend to be rich in sodium, which is why homemade seasoning blends are much better. Such is the case for cajun seasoning.

While many of you may be tempted to reach for the convenient, pre-mixed options on the grocery shelf, the truth is that homemade cajun spice blend is a game-changer, especially in regards to flavor and health. You see, the average cajun seasoning contains nearly 170 milligrams (mg) of sodium per servings, which is 1/4 teaspoon. Most recipes call for way more than that! Using one teaspoon will rack up 680 mg of sodium, which is quite a lot when you consider that health experts recommend you not exceed 2,300 mg of sodium per day.

You can make this homemade cajun seasoning in small or large batches. This allows you to control the freshness and potency of each blend. That means that your spice retains its flavor and aroma for longer. Say goodbye to clumpy, stale, old spice blends that sit in your spice cabinet for months. Welcome this spicy blend into your life. Just be careful not to go overboard with it, as it can have a dominant flavor.

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