Easter Sides

 

Cinnamon Honey Maple Roasted Carrot Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette 

It's a fresh healthy spring salad made with roasted caramelized carrots, sliced radishes, crunchy almonds, mixed greens, and a few dried cranberries for a pop of color. A delicious side for your Easter gathering. The recipe serves 4 but ingredients can be easily increased for more servings.  Some optional add-ins include sliced avocados, cucumbers, and bacon bits.

Salad Ingredients:

• 2 cups diagonally diced carrots (I used baby carrots sliced diagonally in half)   
• 1 cup red onion strips
• 1 tablespoons  each of olive oil, honey and maple syrup 
• 1 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon or 1- 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup sliced radishes 
• 1/3 cup toasted almonds
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• Mixed greens or arugula

Salad Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad.
• In a bowl toss carrots and red onions with olive oil, honey, maple syrup and cinnamon.   
• Spread the carrot mixture evenly out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast carrots and onions stirring occasionally, 25 minutes. Last 5 minutes add almonds and cranberries to the side of the pan to roast. Carrots should be cooked al dente and almonds should be lightly browned. Let almonds, onions, and carrots cool completely before adding to the salad bowl or plate. 
• Assemble the salad with mixed greens or arugula, red onions, radishes, almonds, and cranberries. Drizzle with Apple Cider Vinaigrette or Citrus Vinaigrette.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Scant ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil or Lemon Olive Oil

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a blender and refrigerate for one hour for flavors to meld. Store dressing in a screw-type jar. 

Citrus Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of good quality white balsamic vinaigrette or Honey Ginger Balsamic
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or Blood Orange Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 minced garlic clove 

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a blender and refrigerate for one hour for flavors to meld.  

Broccoli Mash

 Broccoli Mash

Ingredients:

• 5 large Yukon potatoes, peeled and cubed
• Half and half
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups diced broccoli florets
• 1/2 container of soft herb cream cheese e.g. Alouette with Garlic and Herbs

Directions: 

• Cover cubed potatoes with water and bring to a boil. reduce to medium heat and cook 15 minutes until fork tender. 
• Rinse and drain. return potatoes back to dry pan, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes. 
• Mash potatoes, add in herb cheese, salt and pepper, and enough half and half until desired consistency using a mixer. Fold in chopped broccoli florets.