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Celebrate the Season: 40 Healthy Spring Produce Recipes

Michele Foley — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:05:08 PDT

We're smack dab in the middle of Spring, and with all the new colors popping up at the farmers market, I couldn't be happier. If you've been picking up Spring produce (like fava beans, English peas, artichokes, carrots, avocados, and asparagus) and are wondering what to do with your new bounty of veggies, here are 40 healthy recipes to inspire you the next time you're in the kitchen.

Feel Like a Spring Chicken - and Feast on One, Too

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:51:54 PDT

A whole roast chicken is one the easiest weekend meals to prepare; it's pretty hands-off, requires minimal cleanup, and usually yields plenty of leftovers for the rest of the work week. During the Winter, I keep this recipe pretty simple with potatoes and onions but once Spring has sprung, I love to add carrots, radishes, bell pepper, and even asparagus.
To season the chicken, coat it in a mixture of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil. Place the squeezed lemon rinds inside the cavity of the chicken for even more zest. Of course, a whole chicken will take longer to cook than those delicate Spring veggies, so I always start the chicken with baby potatoes and onions. As the chicken roasts, I add the other vegetables depending on their thickness and cook time. Carrots and radishes can take the heat but sliced bell pepper and asparagus should go nearly at the end. Serve your succulent chicken and Spring vegetables with some crusty French bread and white wine for a perfect weekend meal. Feast on your Spring chicken once you get the recipe.

Taste the Rainbow: Orange

Camilla Salem — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:07:08 PDT

Strangely enough, orange produce was harder to come by than red for this colorful produce tour. The options are pretty straightforward, but that doesn't make them any less full of flavor. I stuck to three different ingredients: oranges, carrots, and orange bell peppers. Find out what to do with them when you keep reading.

Beyond Bunnies: 10 Healthy Carrot-Filled Recipes

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:00:59 PDT

We know that carrots aren't just for bunnies, and there's no better time than Easter to get in some of this veggie's goodness. Chock-full of beta-carotene and vitamins A and C, chowing down on some crunchy carrots offers a bevy of benefits to your diet. Hop into this slideshow, and click through 10 delicious ways you can enjoy carrots now.

Spring Side: Steamed Carrots With Olive Oil and Lemon

Camilla Salem — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:30:41 PDT

I've said it before and I'll say it again: when you've got really great seasonal produce, you don't have to do much to create a standout dish that perfectly complements a meal. The slightly sweet flavor of carrots is a fresh counterpart to a meaty main course, so why cover it up in heavy sauces or turn it into something else entirely? What's more is that this preparation of carrots is not only visually appealing, but it's also incredibly fast and easy.

Get your hands on some smaller carrots with the tops on for easy steaming. Leaving a little bit of the green tops on the carrot (a half inch or so) makes a beautiful presentation filled with color. You'll be surprised what this small step does for the overall aesthetic of the dish.

I like to steam these until they are just tender enough to be pierced with a fork, but still have a little bit of bite to them. Immediately dunking your perfectly steamed carrots into an ice bath stops the cooking process and preserves the bright color and fresh flavor.

A sprinkle of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice enhance the flavors of the carrots, and you've got a simple and fresh side dish that is full of color and flavor. For the incredibly easy recipe, read on.

In Season: Carrots

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:29:21 PST

You eat carrots regularly - but how much do you know about them? Although they can be grown year-round, all root vegetables thrive during the Winter season, protected from cooler temperatures by the earth. Carrots are known for their vibrant orange color, but there are also purple, red, yellow, and white varieties - mostly grown as novelty crops. The root itself is crunchy and sweet, while the leafy greens tend to be on the bitter side.

To learn more about carrots and discover new dishes, just keep reading

Sit Down to Jamie Oliver's Fall Feast in Just One Hour

Lauren Hendrickson — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:21:05 PDT

I have loved Jamie Oliver since his days on The Naked Chef and have definitely picked up each one of his cookbook along the way! His latest, Meals in Minutes, is a new take on the cookbook: rather than being individual dishes, the recipes are full meals that, in his words, only take about 30 minutes to prepare with some practice.

Fall is arriving in San Francisco, so it was the perfect opportunity to try out one of his comforting meals of chicken pot pie, smashed carrots, French-style peas, and a seasonal fruit shortcake-like dessert. Rather than make use of prepared ingredients like pre-sliced mushrooms to save time, he calls on home cooks to use whole ingredients and pull out their food processors for quick prep. This amazing dinner took me about an hour (including the photos along the way), so it really was a delicious and doable weeknight meal. So see if you can beat my time for this fast feast when you keep reading for the recipe.

Baby Carrots: Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

Tara Block — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:13:38 PDT

The baby carrot marketing blitz we showed you last year is accomplishing what it set out to do - giving bite-sized veggies a junk food makeover. A recent Fast Company article digs into this new campaign, which has taken cues from companies like Doritos and Coca-Cola to rebrand baby carrots as a cool, snackable alternative to both traditional carrots and unhealthy salty and sweet options. Using clever commercials, social media, chips-like packaging, and out-of-the-box strategies like baby carrot vending machines at schools, these lil guys are making a comeback.

But what do you think about baby carrots? Some find them overrated, but I think they are super convenient for a healthy, midafternoon snack, especially since they don't require the standard fresh fruit and vegetable prep.

And I have to say it's a lot better to be absentmindedly munching on baby carrots at my desk than, say, gummy bears. What do you think?

Baby Carrots: Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

Love 'em!

Hate 'em!

5 Healthy Ways to Eat Your Heart Out

Michele Bell — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:00:12 PST

It's easy to roll out the sugar cookie dough and toss on some sprinkles for a quick Valentine's Day treat. While a cookie may taste delicious, it can be the downfall to a healthy diet. 'Cause who can truly make a batch of cookies without licking the bowl and eating about half a dozen when they are baked in your kitchen? Instead of tempting yourself with the usual suspects, consider showing your sweetheart or your girlfriends how much you care about them and their health with these simple and easy Valentine shaped dishes. They're sure to win their hearts over.

Have You Ever Received, Given, or Carried an Alterna-Bouquet?

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:00:00 PST

I'm getting a major kick out of this shot from No Strings Attached, which opens Friday. Ashton Kutcher cleverly offers a "bouquet" of carrots to Natalie Portman as a work-around of their "strictly sexual" relationship. When I was researching the no-flowers phenomenon last May, I discovered 15 alternative wedding bouquet ideas, including everything from macarons to seashells to balloons, but the orange root vegetable certainly wasn't one of them. Have you ever received, given, or carried an alterna-bouquet? If so, tell me which kind in the comments!