Thanksgiving Prep: Easy Balsamic & Garlic Roasted Carrots

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These easy garlic roasted carrots are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish!

About these carrots:

Can you get an easier dish than these garlic and balsamic roasted carrots? No, you can’t. They’re so easy, it’s almost embarrassing I’m posting a recipe for them. But I’m a food blogger and that’s what food bloggers DO during the holidays. With a week away to the stuffyourfaceuntilyourpantsdontfit holiday, you’re probably looking for recipes that are easy to make and relatively healthy, right? I mean, I know I am and I’m not even cooking the entire meal. My favorite part about these carrots is the garlic. 5 cloves, you guys. 5 delicious cloves are minced and sprinkled over these beauties. You may not be able to kiss your loved ones after noshing on these carrots, but at least your kitchen will smell aromatic and absolutely delicious. Plus, who kisses anyone on Thanksgiving anyway? Your mouth is busy doing other things, like eating ten pounds of mashed potatoes and an entire turkey.

About life:

Can we talk about how I failed at Paleo 3 days after starting it?

Diets have never been my strong suit, which is entirely why I keep going up and down within the same number on the scale and can’t seem to make it budge in the direction I want it to. It seems to always move UP instead of down, despite my best efforts to eat healthfully and workout 5x a week. But, there’s one thing I’m trying to learn and apply to my 2018 – that a number doesn’t matter as long as you’re happy and healthy. Of course, you want to have some idea as to how much you actually weigh, but the number shouldn’t be your only driver to your health.

It’s a hard lesson for me, as a girl who still weighs herself everyday and does feel down when the number doesn’t align with the one I have in my head. We all have that number, the oh so desirable “goal weight.” The number where we say to ourselves “When I’m this number, I’ll be happy,” or “When I finally hit XXX, I’ll fall in love.” Funny enough, that’s not how life works. Because that kind of thinking only means one thing, you’ll never be happy with your weight, even at that magical number. Trust me, I’ve hit my goal a few times in my life and when I hit it, I only wanted to lose more. I replaced the number I hit with another one, an even more unrealistic number. Was I happy? No. I picked and purged just as much as I did 10 pounds heavier.

So this year, and especially this holiday season, I’m going to try NOT to think about the numbers. I’m going to try just to focus on keeping up with the healthy habits I’ve already adapted and find other ones that’ll continue to bring me strength and happiness. for me, that’s my workouts, my studies and eating a healthy, balanced vegetarian diet. What is it to you?

Easy Balsamic & Garlic Roasted Carrots

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!

Serves about 6.
Prep time: >10 minutes
Cook time: About 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 12 large carrots
  • 5 large cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (I used thyme, rosemary and parsley)
  • Dash of salt
  • Dash of pepper
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons high quality balsamic vinegar

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Chop the ends off the carrots. Cut into 1 1/2 inch slices or julianne. Chop the garlic.
  3. Layer the carrots onto the parchment paper. Drizzle liberally with the olive oil. Sprinkle the carrots with garlic, herbs, salt and papper.
  4. Roast for about 20 minutes, stopping to toss 10 minutes in, or until fork tender. Drizzle with balsamic and serve hot.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories: 150
Fat: 7.2 grams
Carbohydrates: 12 grams
Fiber: 4 grams
Protein: 1 gram

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Comments

  1. Posted by Jan J on
    Friday, January 19th, 2018
    When does the balsamic vinegar go on....as they roast or right before serving?
    • Posted by Claire on
      Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
      Before serving. Just updated that.