Shaved Carrot Ribbons and Cranberry Salad

Two simple vegetables, the carrot and the cranberry ( a berry) create a fabulous fall salad!

Low calories, yet in high fiber and nutrition, carrots have a rich orange color that is especially appealing in the fall and add a subtle sweetness to so many recipes.

For lunch today ( trying to make healthy choices), I decided to shave a few carrots ( I used a regular vegetable peeler)  into carrot ribbons ( shavings)  and create a salad around it. My creation was absolutely delicious, simple, raw and vegan. I made the salad for "one" and ate it as my lunch,  You can double or triple it for a side dish with dinner.

 I bought a container of organic cranberries last week, so all of my salads this week have boasted a splash of cranberries. Not only do these seasonal berries add color to the salad , they add a welcome tartness. I also love the contrast of the orange carrot with the cranberries.

Since, cranberries are also great for your health. I try  to take advantage of the short season when fresh organic cranberries are available in the supermarket.

I dressed my salad with my sweet cranberry dressing from last week's post and really enjoyed  the combination.

When it comes to cranberries, a little goes a long way!

Health Benefits of Cranberries: ( Quoted from a website called Meals Matter )

" Cranberries contain a powerful cocktail of protective phytonutrients, plant chemicals that contain protective, disease-preventing compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) that act as antioxidants in the body.

Cranberry extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of oral, colon, and prostate cancer cells, in addition to inducing cell death of breast cancer cells. Phytonutrients in cranberries may also be involved in inhibiting the spread of cancer cells throughout the body.

In addition to its anti-cancer properties, cranberries may also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol, inhibiting LDL oxidation (one of the first steps in the progression of coronary artery disease), lowering blood pressure, and inhibiting the formation of blood clots."   end of quote from Meals Matter

Shaved Carrot Ribbon Salad Ingredients: 
1 large fat organic carrot ( large wide carrots are easier to shave with your
vegetable peelers 5 white mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1/2 tomato, diced
5 fresh organic cranberries
1/4 cup of plump organic raisins ( optional)
10 raw cashews

Directions: Using your vegetable peeler, shave the carrot into ribbons ( peelings) and place on a plate. Add sliced mushrooms, diced tomato, and fresh cranberries and raw cashews. Add dressing and enjoy.

Use any vegetable peeler to shave down the carrot 

                           
Variation: If you do not want your salad completely raw, saute the shaved carrot peeling in a little bit of oil spray for a minute or two until the carrots become a little soft and start to wilt. This will make the orange color even more vibrant, the taste a little sweeter, and it will feel like you are eating a vegetable spaghetti texture.

sauteed in a little olive oil spray for 2 minutes

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