Meatless Monday. A Healthy Breakfast.

It's 2015 and like many others with New Year's resolutions healthier eating is a goal this year.

This morning's repast was a cup of old fashioned oatmeal cooked down with a chopped Macintosh apple then sprinkled with two teaspoons each of raisins and brown sugar.

Along with a half cup of orange juice that's 341 calories (thank you SparkPeople for your free calorie counter).

YES. I count calories. I also look at the ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fat content of the food I eat. It's one of the ways to maintain a healthy BMI. Along with eating as close to the earth as possible. Fresh fruits and veggies whenever possible (in season or on sale). Frozen fruit and veggies are the next choice. Organic when it's in the budget. Home-canned as much as possible.

Are you eating healthier this year?

Meatless Monday. 6 October 2014 Photo Challenge: Whole.

I must admit to being a bit let down with the food vendors at Alumni Weekend. Not that their food was bad or anything. I had some delicious vegetarian chili and brought home a cinnamon bun that when heated in the microwave was quite good.

I was let down simply because they didn't have any food that was pumpkin flavored. The very next time I hopped on Facebook a friend had posted a link to Pumpkin Pie Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal.

With those two prompts, I decided that today's post is going to be all about the Pumpkin! Er... the eating thereof.

Besides thinking of "Uncle Harry" and pumpkin pie, I got to thinking about the delicious pumpkin muffins served at the Country Cupboard downstate in Lewisburg. In all our years of traveling through there on our way to Coudersport from northern New Jersey, I don't think anyone in our family ever had a bad meal. There and back again. Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, Grampa, Mom and Dad. We've all stopped in there a time or three.

What's so great about it? Courteous staff. Rarely a wait for a table. Very reasonably priced. More than ample sized servings. Nope, they're not paying me to say any of this. Simply stating what me and mine have experienced as a guests. If you want to find them on Facebook, they're listed as Country Cupboard Restaurant and Shops.

But to get back to the pumpkin,

Meatless Monday.

Yesterday's dietary overindulgence has led to today's (and possibly several days this week) menu: Vegetable Stew. Some call it "Kitchen Sink" stew, but what it really is is the last of the fresh vegetables from my organic garden in anticipation of the killing frost that's right around the corner.

Except for the corn and garlic, everything you see pictured came from the raised beds in the back yard. The corn and garlic are from a "certified organic" farm.

The carrots and potatoes grew to amazing sizes this year. Shown are not the largest - but they're all sweet and fresh. Wishing the basil had done better this year; hoping perhaps under the grow light they'll reach for the sky.

Am mixing everything together and simmering it over a slow fire in a big enamelware pot for as long as it takes the flavors to meld together. Will use home-canned stewed tomatoes as a base.

Rest of ingredients?