All That and A Bag of Carrots

With everything in my life becoming so chaotic, I've given myself a fun little challenge to try and find 101 things to make out of a bag of carrots - my favorite grocery store bargain. $1.79 for a 5 lb. bag of carrots is a steal considering all the things you can do with carrots! Definitely an underutilized veggie. Here are my first 10:

1. Carrot sticks - an all time favorite, dip them in ranch or hummus or simply eat them plain. Nutritious, low calorie and tasty! Trust me if you cut them up and set them out - they will get eaten
2. Roasted Carrots with Parsley - peel and slice carrots, mix with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped parsley. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes or until roasted
3. Homemade baby food - Peel and steam carrots, blend in a blender with a little water till desired consistency and your done! Short Cut Mommy tip: freeze in freezable container up to 2 months and defrost in microwave when ready to use.
4. Carrot Soup with Crab - A fabulous recipe found in Sunset Magazine years ago. Sooo Good!
5. Stock - Throw some carrots (peeled or not) in a pot with celery, (cooked) chicken remains, onions, parsley, salt & pepper. Fill pot with enough water to cover everything and boil for 2 hours. Strain and instant homemade broth! Short Cut Mommy tip: Fill reusable ice trays with broth, freeze. Pop out and keep in a freezable plastic container to use as needed.
6. Carrot Juice - Full of vitamins and tasty!
7. Chop up and throw in a stir fry - Carrots are a great addition to any stir fry and add gorgeous orange color.
8. Shred on top of salads - Short Cut Mommy tip: If you have a food processor with a grate blade, shred a few and keep in the fridge ready to use.
9. Carrot Cake - I LOVE carrot cake especially this recipe from Barefoot Contessa
10. Shrimp & Veggie Summer Rolls - Delicious, refreshing, actually easier than you think! Check out the recipe found in Food & Wine Magazine.

I look forward to posting the next 10 great carrot finds!!