Healthy Carrot Fries

Simple, easy, and healthy carrot fries are a great snack or side dish to a burger!

STEP 1. Scrub and peel your carrots then slice in half and then into quarters length wise. 

STEP 2. Place them in a bowl and toss with 1 TBSP Olive oil, 1tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, salt and pepper and 1TBSP Chopped parsley. 

STEP 3. Place in single layer on parchment lined baking sheet. 

STEP 4. Bake in oven at 425 for 20 minutes. Turn half way through and keep an eye on them. If you have smaller carrots they will cook faster. 

STEP 5. Mix 1 cup Greek yogurt with juice of 1 lemon, 1tsp onion powder, 1tsp garlic powder, salt and pepper, with about 3-5 chopped chives. 

Enjoy!  

French lentils with leeks, carrots, and Dijon dressing

Well it’s fall y’all, and officially time for some comforting dishes. But that doesn’t mean they have to be loaded in fat and carbs. This lentil dish is a great meatless option but would also be a great side to a pork tenderloin or even a juicy steak. 

Here’s how to make them...

First stuff an onion with 6 cloves

Slice a medium turnip in half

Then place in a pot with 1 cup of French green lentils (Whole Foods has them for 2.99 per cup in the bulk section) and 3 cups of water. 

Bring to a boil then simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. 

Slice a leek in half and make sure to rinse the insides, they can carry a lot of dirt and grit. 

Slice a carrot into 1/2 inch pieces and add to a sauté pan with the leek. Make sure you have heated a TBSP of olive oil over medium heat first.

After cooking down about 5 minutes add 3 cloves chopped garlic and cook 1 minute. 

Turn off heat. 

Back to the lentils. This is how they should look when done. 

Remove onion and turnip and drain in a fine siev 

Add the lentils to the pan of leeks and carrots and add two TBSP of unsalted butter. 

Now make the dressing. Mix 1 TBSP red wine vinegar, 1 TBSP Dijon mustard, 2TBSP olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl with a whisk until fully incorporated. 

Add the dressing to the lentils. 

Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy! 

Tips with Grace

Product Review Alert!

So I’m always searching for deals on quality products (especially organic ones) because who wants to overpay for anything!? Here are just a few products and brands that I use on a daily basis.

Just a few notes... 

• I usually prefer fresh fruit but since going organic I find it’s waaaay cheaper to buy it frozen (especially out of season). 
• Organic quinoa can be super expensive too but damn if I wasn’t totally shocked to find this HUGE bag for under $10 at Costco! 
• I love adding seeds to my shakes in the morning and Trader Joe’s has this awesome blend that gives you a little bit of everything. 

Triple pepper quinoa salad with squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and Parmesan

A super simple weeknight meal that packs a punch of protein from quinoa without the meat! 

Start by rinsing your quinoa to get off any excess starch. 

Cook your quinoa with chicken or vegetable broth in a 2:1 ratio. Meaning, 2 parts liquid to 1 part quinoa. (1 cup quinoa -2 cups liquid) Add spices for additional flavor.  Some of my favorites are turmeric, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. 

Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. 

In the meantime prep your vegetables. Dice peppers and half an onion into similar size pieces to ensure even cooking. 

Cook peppers and onion in a large sauté pan with enough olive oil to coat bottom of pan (about 1-2 TBSP). 

Cook 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and peppers are soft.

Slice squash and zucchini into quarter inch slices and add to pan. Cool 3-5 minutes or until soft. 

Mince and add garlic along with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. 

Cook another 90 seconds or until garlic is fragrant. 

Take pepper and squash mixture off heat and stir in quinoa. 

To finish your dish add the zest of one lemon, fresh cherry tomatoes, and grated Parmesan. 

I used a vegetable peeler to make large thin slices from the block of Parmesan. 

Enjoy! 

So I'm always looking for something quick and healthy to snack on... and these little bits of joy do not disappoint. 

So gather your ingredients...

Mix them all together...

Then Chill for at least 30 minutes...

Roll into balls and enjoy... keep refrigerated