HOMEMADE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

4 POUNDS BUTTERNUT SQUASH
58 OUNCES VEGETABLE BROTH
1 CUP WATER
1/4 TEASPOON GROUND RED PEPPER
2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER


SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE


PEEL AND HALVE THE SQUASH LENGTHWISE TO DISCARD THE SEEDS.  


CUT SQUASH INTO 3/4-INCH PIECES.


COMBINE SQUASH, BROTH, WATER, AND PEPPER IN A LARGE POT.


COOK, COVERED, OVER MEDIUM HEAT FOR 20 MINUTES UNTIL SQUASH IS TENDER.


TRANSFER 2 CUPS OF THE SQUASH AND BROTH MIXTURE AT A TIME TO A BLENDER.


CAREFULLY BLEND EACH SET OF TWO CUPS UNTIL ALL HAS BEEN BLENDED.


RETURN BLENDED MIXTURE TO A LARGE POT.


BRING TO A BOIL.


SIMMER, UNCOVERED, 5 MINUTES.  ADD BUTTER AND STIR TILL MELTED.


MAKES 6 SERVINGS OF SOUP.

HOT & HEALTHY EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA ROLL

1 LG EGGPLANT, CUT INTO 1/4 SLICES
3 LG EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN INTO EGG WASH
SEASON TO TASTE
6 FRESH BASIL LEAVES (OPTIONAL)
4 CUPS ITALIAN BREAD CRUNBS
1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL
6 WHOLE GRAIN ITALIAN ROLLS, WARMED
1 CUP 2% MOZZARELLA, SHREDDED
2 CUPS HEATED MARINARA SAUCE


COMPLETELY COVER AND SOAK EGGPLANT SLICES IN WARM WATER FOR 1 HOUR.


REMOVE FROM WATER, PAT DRY WITH PAPER TOWEL AND DIP IN EGG WASH.


THEN COVER EACH ENTIRELY WITH BREAD CRUMBS.


DISCARD EXCESS EGG WASH AND BREAD CRUMBS.


IN A LARGE SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT, ADD A LITTLE OLIVE OIL TO COAT THE BOTTOM.  ADD SLICES AND COVER UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO BECOME TRANSLUCENT.


TURN EACH SLICE AND COOK COVERED UNTIL ALL IS COMPLETELY TENDER.


REMOVE FROM FRYING PAN AND PLACE ON PAPER TOWEL PLATE TO SOAK UP EXCESS OIL.


DIVIDE  THREE SLICES EACH ON WARMED ITALIAN ROLLS.


LAYER A SPOON OF HOT MARINARA AND COVER WITH MOZZARELLA.


ONCE CHEESE MELTS SERVE.


COULD ALSO TOP WITH SOME FRESH BASIL. 


MAKES 6 AWESOME ITALIAN SANDWICHES.

WHAT IS SOLUBLE FIBER?

DO YOU WANT TO EAT HEALTHIER BUT ARE NOT SURE WHAT YOU SHOULD BE EATING?  THERE ARE MANY HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS OUT THERE.  TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOLUBLE FIBER AND WHAT FOODS YOU CAN FIND IT IN.


FIBER HELPS PROMOTE HEALTH AND REDUCE THE RISK FOR SOME CHRONIC DISEASES.  FIBER ALSO PREVENTS CONSTIPATION, HEMORRHOIDS AND DIVERTICULOSIS.  FIBER HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO PREVENT COLON AND BREAST CANCER.  FIBER IS BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO PARTS, SOLUBLE AND INSOLUBLE.  BOTH ARE UNDIGESTED AND DO NOT GET ABSORBED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.  FIBER IS NOT USED FOR ENERGY, IT IS EXCRETED FROM YOUR BODY.  LETS TALK ABOUT SOLUBLE FIBER.


SOLUBLE FIBER HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE BAD CHOLESTEROL AND IMPROVE HEART HEALTH, WHICH IS WHY SOME FOODS ARE PROMOTED AS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART.  (THEY CONTAIN SOME SOLUBLE FIBER)  


FDA DOES NOT REQUIRE FOOD COMPANIES TO BREAK DOWN INSOLUBLE AND SOLUBLE FIBER ON THIER PRODUCT SO YOU MAY BE TAKING IN SOME AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.  I AM SEEING IT LISTED ON THE PACKAGE MORE AND MORE AS MORE AMERICANS ARE BEING HEALTH CONSCIOUS AND IT SHOWS TO HELP SELL PRODUCTS.  LETS FACE IT WE ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE EATING AT LEAST THOSE THAT CARE ABOUT THIER HEALTH.


OATMEAL HAS SOLUBLE FIBER IN IT AND YOU CAN EAT IT AS JUST PLAIN HOT OATMEAL OR USE IT IN MANY RECIPES AS FLOUR.  TO MAKE OATMEAL FLOUR JUST SIMPLY PUT THE OATS IN A PROCESSOR, MIXER OR BULLET AND TURN ON UNTIL THE OATS ARE TURNED INTO FLOUR.  VERY SIMPLE AND LETS NOT FORGET HEART HEALTHY TOO.

BE SURE TO TRY MY BLUEBERRY OATMEAL PANCAKE RECIPES.


I WILL BE POSTING MORE RECIPES REPLACING FLOUR WITH OATMEAL FLOUR.  

OATMEAL BLUEBERRY PANCAKES

YOUR HEART WILL THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE.  BE SURE TO SERVE WITH WARM 100% MAPLE SYRUP.


1 CUP WATER
3/4 CUP OATMEAL, UNCOOKED
3/4 CUP OATMEAL FLOUR, PUT 1 1/2 CUP IN A BULLET OR PROCESSOR TO THE CONSISTENCY OF FLOUR (USE ONLY 3/4 CUP)


4 LARGE EGG WHITES


1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
1/2 TEASPOON CINNAMON
1/4 TEASPOON NUTMEG


1/4 CUP BLUEBERRIES


HEAT WATER UNTIL BOIL, STIR IN OATS AND SET ASIDE.  

BEAT EGG WHITES INTO A STIFF FOAM WITH HAND MIXER AND SET ASIDE.

MIX REMAINING DRY INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND STIR IN OATMEAL/WATER MIXTURE.

FOLD IN EGG WHITES UNTIL MIXTURE IS WELL BLENDED.

ADD BLUEBERRIES.

COOK PANCAKES UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN ON A PREPARED PAN.

MAKES 10 SMALL PANCAKES.