Penne Pea Pesto with tomatoes and Black Olives

This was a hodge podge of ingredients thrown together, but it worked and it had lots of food groups and healthy ingredients.   Pecans have a high source vitamin E which acts as a powerful antioxident.  They also are a rich source of  manganese, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.  Peas are high in antioxidents and contains almost as much protein in a half cup as a tablespoon of peanut butter.  Tomatoes are the antioxidpent powerhouse, but they also contain fiber and protein.

Ingredients
for pesto
2 cups canned peas

1/2 cup parm cheese
1/2 pecans
2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup salt
pepper to taste
1/4 cup boiled pasta water
combine all in blender or food processor

12 ounces penne pasta
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced green olives

boil noodles according to instruction(reserve 1/4 pasta water for pesto)
drain pasta and toss with pesto and add tomatoes and olives

Baked Pumpkin French Toast

This is a special Sunday morning treat, that is easy to make and tastes far more decadant then it really is.  Eggs are always healthy, consumed in moderation and pumpkin puree is low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium, and a good source of vitamin E, fiber, vitamin A,C and K.  Also an excellent source of beta carotene which is high in antioxidents which keeps bad cells out.  This combined with healthy goodness of oats, which is extremely high in fiber and aids in keeping digestivbe system moving, which can prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Whole wheat bread provides fiber as well as many B vitamins.  Thiamin, Niacin, Ribofavin, Folate and iron and calcium as well.
this seves 8
Ingredients:
8 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 can pumpkin puree
8 slices whole wheatbread

topping
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter cut in small pieces

cube wholewheat bread, line them up in greased 9x13 baking dish
in bowl whisk until fully mixed eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin puree
pour over bread mixture and toss gently so all bread is evenly coated.

in seperate bowl combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and butter, combine until it makes a consistent crunchy mixture
sprinkle evenly over the the pumpkin, egg, bread mixture

bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.

Oatmeal Pumpkin Raisin Cookies

Yet another pumpkin recipe.  This one was delicious.   Pumpkin is low in saturated fats, low in cholesterol, and sodium and a good source of vitamin E, fiber, vitamin A,C and K.  Also an excellent source of beta carotene which is high in antioxidents which keeps bad cells out.  This combined with the uber nutrition of oats, which is extremely high in fiber and aids in keeping digestive system moving, which in turn helps to prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
 2 cups flour
1 1/3 old fashioned oats
1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup(two sticks) of butter
1 cup packed brown sugar softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup raisin
preheat at 375
combine butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree and vanilla in a bowl, in a seperate bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, combine with wet ingredients
when completely mixed add raisins.
Drop spoon fulls of batter on a cookie sheet, place an inch apart
bake for 10-12 minutes

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Corn and Scrammbled Eggs

This is an easy, healthy dish that can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  I served it alone, but there is nothing wrong with a piece of whole wheat toast or perhaps even a tortilla to make it a rollup.  I also served it with tobasco, salsa can work as well or even red pepper flakes. 
serves 4
ingredients:
2 tablespoons canola oil
8 eggs lightly beaten
1 can 11 ounces corn
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste


In a large skillet or frypan over medium heat, heat oil
In large bowl mix eggs, corn, milk and s and p
Pour into hot skillet
When the eggs begin to set, stir the eggs(scramble them)
Give the eggs a good stir and flip every 30 seconds or so until the eggs are completely set

Add salsa, tobasco or red pepper flakes(all optional) 
On this blog I have mentioned how healthy eggs are many times. The little 80 calories pack so many nutrients in just one serving, and for less then .20.  The vitamin A in eggs helps to promote good night vision, general cell growth and for healthy skin.  Also consuming eggs adds a large concentration of antioxidents, which come from selenium and also vitamin E.  Antioxidents help keep the bad cells out.  The corn in this dish also adds to the nutritional value.  Corn provides a large amount of fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels and also reduces the risk of colon cancer.

Spicy Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
1 cup chicken broth
1 can, 15 ounces pumpkin puree
1/4 cup milk(whatever you have, no fat, 1%, vitamin D)
1 tablespoon butter
2 tsp garlic powder
pinch of salt and pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes(optional, and definitely could be more)

heat butter on low in soup pot, when melted add all ingredients, bring to a boil, lower heat and let simmer for 30 minutes stirring often.

This soup is great because its easy, its flavorful and pumpkin is so nutritious.  It is low in saturated fats, low in cholesterol, and sodium and a good source of vitamin E, fiber, vitamin A, C and K.  Also an excellent source of beta carotene.

Apple Pumpkin Crisp

Heres a warm, yummy cinnamony dessert, that is easy to prepare, delicious to eat and healthy to boot. 
Ingredients:
1 can apple topping

1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup pumpkin puree

For crumb topping
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
12 tablespoons cold butter

Mix first 5 ingredients and place in a 9inch pie pan that is 2 inch deep
in a seperate bowl, combine all the ingredients for the crumb topping and spread evenly over the apple combination.

What I love about this is the sweetness of the apple, the creamy smoothness of the pumkin puree and the crunch of the oats.  Pumpkin is low in saturated fats, low in cholesgterol, and sodium and a good source of vitamin E, fiber, vitamin A,C and K.  Also an excellent source of beta carotene which is high in antioxidents which keep bad cells out.  Combine this with the healthy goodness of oats which is extremely high in fiber and aids in keeping the digestive system moving, which in turn helps to prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This cookie is a combination of cookie and cake.  It is great for a snack or dessert. I made them with dark chocolate, but they would be great with raisins, cranberries or nuts such as walnuts or pecans.  Once again, pumpkin is the star ingredient.

1 Cup  Pumpkin Puree
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup canola oil
1 Egg
2 Cups Flour
2 Tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp milk
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375
Mix pumpkin, sugar, egg, canola, milk, and vanilla.  Add dry igredients, mix well and add chips.  spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.