There is nothing more healthy than Butter Nut Squash Soup. What a Fall favorite! I grew my own this year but BNSQ is available in any store produce section or better still from any Farmer’s Market. Cut open the squash and scoop out or cut out in chunks the orange flesh. Boil until pretty soft and drain all but enough to keep the squash from clogging your blender. Add back some more liquid and some milk or cream in your blender and flavor as you like. I like a dash of nutmeg but my husband likes cinnamon. Blend until smooth. Cook in a large pot and be sure to make extra. I freeze leftovers in milk cartons. This is super easy.

PS for totally non-cookers. Go down to the store and buy the soup and also bisque of tomato if you like it, in the square cartons. There are several brands and all are good.

PPSS Add a large piece of French bread or a roll.

Salads are not what they used to be. Lettuce and tomato are not the salad any more, they are just the starting base. What else can you add? Try some of these additives for a salad surprise. BTW-Eat This Not That means don’t add any cheese except feta and DON’T under any circumstances use full fat dressing. The best dressing is V and O of any type you like. I like apple cider or rice vinegar and Balsamic special vinegars. I use olive oil only for salads or dip and I use Canola oil to cook.

1. Boiled egg
2. Blueberries
3. Different types of tomato-there are sooo many
4. Any and all veg. Broc, Cauliflower, Carrots, (I like grated carrots) etc.
5. Add a special bag of Asian mix or South West mix
6. Nuts (I like walnuts)
7. Feta Cheese
8. Try “Skinny Girl” Dressings
9. Any different type of greens
10. Meat
11. Salmon, tuna, tofu or any other vegetable protein, like chick peas or beans
12. Just for fun-Try scallops (I buy the frozen bag at Trader Joe’s)

So, you see that I am right-right??? Do anything to your salad. Just be sure to watch the carbs and use lots of fiber! Let me know how it goes.

I love pear and yes, out of season I even use canned pears. I buy the kind that are canned in lite syrup and then I drain the syrup into tea, any type of water, just a jar of juices I keep in the fridge to caramelize things, and on and on. The easiest way to eat a pear is just out of hand, but you might also try a 1/2 peeled pear on a leaf of Romain lettuce with some blue or feta cheese. It looks really fancy when plated as a starter or salad.

I also really like to poach pears. Use canned or fresh and poach in just about anything you like that is flavorful. I poach in red wine, white wine, maple syrup added to water, even cheap sparkling wine.

Just barely cover the pear halves and bubble the liquid until the pears are al dente. Save the juice to pour over the pears and decorate with some mint leaves. Yummy-I think YES!