Split Pea with Barley Soup

This soup has been one of our family's favorites for a long time. It fills you up without using too many of your calories for the day. It makes a lot, so you people with smaller families should half the recipe, and you'll still probably have leftovers for lunch the next day... or two. I usually make half-whole-wheat breadsticks and cut up some fruit to go with it.

8 cups water
1 pkg (16 oz) dry green split peas, rinsed
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup uncooked barley (find this either where the oatmeal is or with the flour and other grains)
4 chicken bouillon cubes or 4 tsp chicken bouillon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked ham (I use John Morrell 12 oz diced ham--it's usually in the meat department)

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except ham. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until soup reaches desired thickness. Add ham and cook until thoroughly heated. Remove bay leaf and serve.

Makes 10 cups.

Nutrition Info:
Serving size - 1 cup
Calories - 228
Total fat - 1.6 g
Saturated fat - .3 g
Trans fat - 0 g
Cholesterol - 12 mg
Sodium - 673 mg
Carbohydrate - 38.4 g
Dietary fiber - 13.4 g
Sugars - 5.6 g
Protein - 16.8
Vitamin A - 1%
Vitamin C - 4%
Calcium - 4%
Iron - 14%

Spaghetti & Turkey Meatballs

I found this recipe in my Eating for Life cookbook and made it thinking I wouldn't really like the meatballs, but I loved them! (Probably because I actually used fresh parsley instead of my usual dried. :) )  I use Ronzoni Healthy Harvest spaghetti because it's got good stuff in it, and I think it tastes good, too. 

1 1/2 lean ground turkey
2 egg whites
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs or quick oats
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp ground black pepper
3 cups Hunt's Chunky Vegetable spaghetti sauce
Spaghetti (about 12 oz)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, egg whites, breadcrumbs, water, onion, garlic, parsley, basil, and pepper.  Mix thoroughly and shape into 1 1/2" balls.  Arrange meatballs on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until browned, turning once after 10 minutes. 

In a large saucepan, combine spaghetti sauce and cooked meatballs.  Simmer over low heat until warmed thoroughly.  Prepare spaghetti according to package directions.  Serve with Parmesan cheese. 

Makes 8 servings (one serving = 3 oz meatballs [about 3], 1/3 cup sauce, & 1/2 tbsp parmesan cheese).  Serve with 2 oz spagetti.

Nutrition Facts (does NOT include spaghetti):
Calories - 206
Total Fat - 7.9 g
Saturated Fat - 2.4 g
Trans Fat - 0
Cholesterol - 62 mg
Sodium 534 mg
Carbohydrates - 13.5 g
Fiber - 3.1 g
Sugars - 6.7 g
Protein - 20 g
Vitamin A - 16%
Vitamin C - 14%
Calcium - 10%
Iron - 14%

Blueberry Banana Muffins

I had a couple over ripe bananas and some blueberries in the fridge I needed to use up so I googled blueberry banana muffins. I found this one on cooks.com and they turned out soooooooo good.

1 med. banana, mashed
1/3 c. skim milk
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 egg whites
2 c. Bisquick
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 c. frozen blueberries, thawed and drained or 1 cup fresh blueberries

Beat banana, milk, oil and egg whites in medium bowl. Stir in baking mix, sugar and cinnamon until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes @ 400 degrees. Makes 12 muffins.

Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie

This has got to be the best pie ever known to mankind. :)

1 precooked pie crust
1 12oz container of cool whip
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 pkg 5.1 oz vanilla instant pudding
2 medium bananas
Strawberries for garnish

Microwave 1 1/2 cups of whipped topping and chocolate chips on high for 30-45 seconds; stir until smooth. Spread on bottom of pie crust. Mix milk and pudding until thickened. Fold in 1 1/2 cups whipped topping. Slice bananas over chocolate. Spread pudding mixture over bananas. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Garnish with remaining whipped topping and strawberries.

Disillusioned

I posted this link to some canola oil research on the diet and exercise blog, but I'll past it here as well: http://www.naturalnews.com/026630_canola_oil_olive_oil_saturated_fat.html Maybe I should just stop making anything that calls for fat. :(

Spicy Pumpkin (or applesauce) Cookies

Heidi, I hope this is the right recipe you wanted. I think I must have just substituted applesauce for the pumpkin. Warning: these are sort of healthy.

1/2 c. canola oil (scant)
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 c. pumpkin puree or applesauce
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 t. salt (sea salt is best (-: )
1 t baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1/2 t. nutmeg (opt)
1/2 - 1 c. raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts, etc.

Mix first 4 ingredients. Add dry ingredients, mix well, add raisins (chips or whatever), drop on greased baking sheet, bake 350 degrees for about 15 min. or until done.

I sometimes use 1/2 c plain sugar, and use up some of my old honey by substituting (about 1/3 c.) for the other half cup sugar.