Announcing 'Healing Foods - Carrots'

Siri's 'Healing Foods' event is to reiterate the fact that 'You are, what you eat' and also to focus on the goodness of fresh produce. Each month a particular ingredient from the healing foods list is chosen and cooked in a way to reap the maximum health benefits.
I am happy to announce that this wonderful event has come to Veggieplatter this month and I have chosen to focus on healthy 'Carrots' that also happen to be one of my favorite veggies.

                                                                         
One of the root vegetables that are cheaper and widely available year round is carrot. Beyond the common orange ones, carrots are also found in purple, maroon, yellow and white colors though the differences in flavors happen to be subtle. While buying, chose carrots that are hard and crisp and if buying with tops, the tops should be bright green, crisp and unwilted.
The carrot has a thick, fleshy, deeply colored root, which grows underground, and feathery green leaves that emerge above ground. It is known scientifically as Daucus carota, a name that can be traced back to ancient Roman writings of the 3rd century. Carrots belong to the Umbelliferae family along with parsnips, fennel caraway, cumin and dill which all have the umbrella-like flower clusters that characterize this family of plants.
(Source: www.whfoods.com)
Sweet carrots happen to taste good either raw or cooked. Carrots are useful in all kinds of Indian dishes / salads / stews / casseroles / for serving with dips and most famously desserts such as cakes and the Indian halwa.
Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. The characteristic bright orange color of the carrots come from β-carotene that is metabolized into vitamin A in humans. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision.

So, why not try to reap the maximum benefits of this healthy veggie this month. Come on, let's get creative and showcase some wonderful carrot dishes together.

To participate in the event, just follow these simple guidelines.

1. Create and post any vegetarian / vegan dish using carrots this month in your blog. Non bloggers can email me the recipe.
2. Link to this event announcement page and Siri's main announcement page in your post.
3. Please send me an email notifying about your entry at toveggieplatter@hotmail.com with the subject 'Carrot' and the following details - your name, URL of the recipe and a picture of the dish. The last date to send in entries is July 31st, 2010.
4. Multiple entries and recipes submitted to other entries are also welcome. Recipes from archives can also be sent if they are reposted.

Image Source - ars.usda.gov

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