Sip to a Tropical Getaway

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you each doing great! Well, it is definitely summer here in Arkansas. The heat and humidity we are experiencing today is almost unbearable. Everyone needs to make sure they are staying super hydrated in this heat!

At my store today, Carrot Dirt Organics, Inc., we are offering a smoothie that will give your body all the nutrients it needs, craves and desires. It is called the Hawaiian Healer. The name comes from the refreshing tropical flavor and the healing health benefits it has on our bodies.

Hawaiian Healer Smoothie

The base is half house-made almond milk, cold-pressed orange, grapefruit, apple, kale, collard, and lemon juice blended with banana, strawberries, dates and spirulina powder. Yum, yum!!!

The first sip sweeps you off your feet and takes you to that tropical island you have been dreaming about. You forget all about this heat and humidity for just a little while :)

Absolutely ALL of our ingredients are 100% organic.

If you live near by, come check us out! We would LOVE to see you! Lets all strive to be as healthy as possible!

Until next time, have a blessed day!
JP

Important Pantry Staple

Hello everyone! I hope each one of you are doing amazing and having a fabulous Tuesday!

We all have our certain staple pantry items. You know, the ones you feel like you simply could not live without. In my household, we have quite a few of these, but the one I am going to spotlight today is organic coconut oil.

Oh coconut oil, how we love you and ALL of the yumminess and health benefits you give us. We love you for being the perfect baking and cooking substitute for butter. You improve our bodies ability to absorb nutrients critical for strong bones. You give us silky locks, while protecting our heart and liver. You make our skin glow, while boosting our metabolism. You are simply amazing!

The other day I was in a local health food store and found coconut oil infused with garlic. Holy moly was I excited. I grabbed that bad boy and tucked him gently into my shopping cart. In my mind, I started to think of all the cooking to be done. I knew it would taste divine to stir-fry beautiful vegetables in, so that is what is for dinner tonight.

I had fresh green beans, zucchini, eggplant and quinoa to be used. While my skillet was slowly heating on my stovetop, I washed all my vegetables, cut them up and threw them in. I topped them off with a spoonful of this amazing smelling garlic coconut oil, turmeric powder (black pepper to increase the health benefits of the turmeric) and garlic powder. Yes, more garlic, I LOVE garlic. :)

For about 12 minutes, I stirred everything together letting all the flavors come together. My kitchen smelled amazing. My dogs were at my feet with their noses in the air wondering what deliciousness their mom was cooking. If you were wondering, yes, I did give them each a fresh green bean. They love their green beans and I can not resist those eyes looking at me to say no.

The end product was this:

If you are looking for a quick healthy dinner, vegetable stir-frys are great! You can pack them full of whatever vegetables you like making the combinations endless. They are very filling and simply delicious. The best part is you can make extras and have leftovers ready to go for the next few days.

What are some of your staple pantry items? I would LOVE to hear them.

Until next time, have a blessed day!
Jessica

Loving 2015

Hello everyone! I hope each one of you are doing amazing!

As some of you know, I own an organic cold pressed juice shop in Fort Smith, Arkansas called Carrot Dirt. Carrot Dirt has had some big changes over the past few weeks. For one, we moved into a NEW location and are so blessed to be there. The move has been absolutely amazing! I believe everything happens for a reason and this move was one of them.

We are now able to offer more salads, veggie sandwiches, fruit cups, hummus cups, raw treats, etc. The response to the move has been overwhelming. We LOVE LOVE LOVE all of our customers (new and  old-timers ;) ) They will never fully understand how much we APPRECIATE them and all of their support they give us.

Fort Smith had their first Marathon this last February and we had the pleasure to have a table at the race.

Carrot Dirt at 2015 FS Marathon

We offered runners fresh wheatgrass shots and juice after their hard runs. It was a hit and we were happy to put much needed nutrients back into their worn out and stressed bodies. 

Lindsey and I at the finish line with fresh wheatgrass shots! 

We now have an OFFICIAL sign on our new location :) You know we are "legit" since we have a sign!

Salads are made fresh daily with different delicious ingredients 

Juice made daily containing 2-4 pounds of produce per bottle

Carrot Dirt is my dream and seeing it unfold and grow makes my heart so happy. Words can not express how I feel each day making juice, nut milks and healthy foods for my community to have the opportunity to enjoy. Every bottle of juice/nut milk, every smoothie, every salad, every sandwich and every other goodie that is available was made with LOVE and passion--passion for health! 

Our health is the most important thing we have and sadly we all take it for granted. Make sure you do something for your health today! Go for walk, meditate, play tennis, read a relaxing book and do not forget-- drink plenty of juice! Organic cold pressed juice :) your body will absorb all the nutrients and will thank you for it. 

On a different note, what is everyone having for dinner? I have some beautiful green beans, zucchini, tomatillos and eggplant to use. I am thinking a veggie stir-fry. Yum!! 

Until next time, have an amazing day!!!

JP

What is the "Dirt" on Lucuma Powder?

Hello everyone! I hope each one of you are having an amazing Saturday! The weather is a little warmer than I would like, but it is still beautiful! Do any of you have some amazing plans for the weekend?

For a few years now, I have been using Lucuma powder in various items. I use it in my smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods, etc. 

What is Lucuma? Lucuma are cool weather drought-resistant trees native to Peru, Chili and Ecuador. This yellowish green fruit containing a starchy yellow-orange flesh, is know as the Gold of the Incas in ancestral times.  This fruit powder is amazing in so many thing because of its maple to caramel like flavor. 

The sweet flavor it adds, without causing blood sugar levels to spike is why this powder is gaining more popularity. This sweetener is perfect for diabetics and people with other health issues. 

Lucuma has:

Vitamin C which may function as an antioxidant as well as contribute to healthy immunity and bone health
Magnesium which may contribute to normal bone health and immunity
Calcium which may assist in supporting strong bones
Potassium which may help maintain normal blood pressure in combination with a low sodium diet

I personally use Sunfood's Lucuma powder. Sunfood offers amazing raw products and the quality is always superb.

Sunfood

 Yesterday, I made a raw chocolate cheesecake and almond butter cups sweetened with this tasty health beneficial sweetener. 

Carrot Dirt Raw Cheesecake

If you have not tried Lucuma before, you should! 

Until next time, have a blessed day!
JP

Cranberry Love

Hello everyone! I hope each one of you are having a magnificent day!

Each week Carrot Dirt has started selling an organic produce that is hard to find in stores (at least in Fort Smith, Arkansas). This week we have deep burgundy, antioxidant-rich cranberries.

Carrot Dirt

Personally, I adore cranberries. I love everything about them. I love their color, firm texture, how they pop after being simmered for cranberry sauce and their beneficial health benefits. 

So what is the "dirt" on cranberries? The Latin name for the cranberry plant is Vaccinium macrocarpon  and is one of the native fruits of North America. This fruit is FULL of phytonutrients and antioxidants providing protection against the problems that develop with age. They also protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Cranberry

Cranberries are a super-food we should consume all year round. Stop by and grab some! Sealed tightly in a plastic container they will last for 2 months in the refrigerator. 

Until next time, have a blessed day!

JP

Favorite Time of Year

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds each one of you doing wonderful. It is officially my FAVORITE time of year. The weather is getting cooler (humidity is lower), mums and pumpkins are out on display for all to see and Christmas is right around the corner. My husband thinks I get overly excited about mums and pumpkins and he may be right, but it is perfectly fine because the heart needs excitement. Finding excitement and joy in the little things is what life is all about.

One item on my bucket list is to go to the huge mum and pumpkin display Germany has every year. I mean seriously, who could deny the pure beauty and joy of these pictures? 

"The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival typically displays more than 400,000 pumpkins each year, arranging them to create larger than life sculptures based on a particular theme."


400,000 pumpkins!!! Can you imagine seeing this in real life? I can not wait till that day comes!

Photo

Mum photo

Speaking of Fall, at Carrot Dirt, we are currently serving our fall juices and nut-milk. The juices are: Autumn Harvest packed full of squash, apple, and cinnamon and Sweet Roots full of pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot and ginger. Pumpkin Patch is our pumpkin almond milk. Yes, that is right, pumpkin almond milk! Organic activated almonds, blended with pumpkin, clovers, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Trust me, it is delicious as it sounds. You can not go wrong with pumpkin, especially when it is 100% organic & healthy! Pumpkin Patch is perfect by itself, in coffee, and baked goods! Recently, I made some vegan waffles with this almond milk and they were a huge hit! 

Carrot Dirt Fall 2014

Carrot Dirt Fall 2014

Carrot Dirt has been open for just over 5 months and we are SO grateful for all of our wonderful customers who have supported us. Seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

Until next time, have a blessed day!!

JP

A New Beginning

Hello! I hope this post finds each one of you doing well. How is everyone's year going so far? I cannot believe it is already June. Before we know it, it will be Christmas again!

This year has had ups and downs. Thankfully more ups! My husband and I took a leap of faith and opened our very own business. It is an all organic cold-pressed juice spot called Carrot Dirt. Juicing has been a passion of mine for many years now and we wanted to share it with our community. We are having an AMAZING time doing it.

Fort Smith, AR first Organic Cold-Pressed Juice Spot

We have a variety of different juices!

We have been open for 1 month and it has been a blessing. We have LOVED meeting new people and having them try our juices and nut-milks. Everyone has been very supportive!! We can not wait for the months to come.

Until next time, I hope you have a blessed day!!

JP