Have you been collecting items for the Heritage Home? We will be delivering the goodies Tuesday, November 6th after the Board Meeting. All HEA members are invited to come along for a fun trip! You can also attend the Board Meeting! Please plan on going to the Heritage Home. They can always use: belts, non-skid slippers, body lotion, soap, shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, denture cream, toothpaste and brushes, umbrellas, rain gear, socks, tissues, wet-ones, phone cards, the VERY cheap washcloths, large print novels, stamps and stationary, word puzzles, magazines and individually wrapped snack cakes & candy! Please no aerosol cans! Plus, they love those individual-sized shampoos/conditioners/ etc. that you get in hotels! Remember we do this as one of our community Service Projects!

• CUT OUT CRUST...CUT CALORIES - For pumpkin pie, double the filling recipe, pour the mixture into a 13x9 baking dish and bake at 350° for 50 minutes (or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean). For other pies, put the pie filling into a pie pan or similar sized dish that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
• GREAT MILDEW REMOVER - Has a friend ever given you something that was in her basement and it had mold beginning to grow on it? Take a spray bottle and fill it with equal parts of water and white vinegar. Spray the spots liberally. The acid in the vinegar kills the mold and stops growth. This works great! If you want to feel more energetic, exercise. You may think that exercise will make you tired, but most people find that a regular exercise program actually increases their energy and reduces fatigue, compared to a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise can benefit healthy adults as well as those with medical or psychiatric conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
• If you are trying to lose weight, look at your liquid calories. Beverages supply more than 20% of the calories in the average American's diet, a percentage that has risen over recent decades. Some liquid calories come from healthy beverages, such as nonfat or low-fat milk (a leading source of calcium and vitamins D and A) and fruits juices (vitamin C). But most come from soda or alcoholic beverages and are "empty" – that is, accompanied by few or no nutrients.

MyPyramid recommends that at least half of your servings from the grain group be whole grains. For most adults that would be 3 servings a day. On the average adults eat less than one serving a day of whole grains and 40 percent of adults get no whole grains.

Many people are unaware of the many health benefits of whole grains. Results of five new studies on whole grains have recently been reported. These studies confirmed and expanded on what we have known about the benefits of whole grains. Eating whole grains has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and may protect against type 2 diabetes.

Look for Whole Grains

Look for the words "whole grain" among the first ingredients listed on the food label. Brown wheat bread isn't necessarily whole grain, unless the label says "whole wheat" or "whole grain". For a product to be labeled whole grain it must contain the whole grain including the:

• Endosperm, the largest part of the kernel where starch is stored and where the largest amount of flour comes from.
• Bran, the fiber-rich outer layer of the kernel which also contains protein and B-complex vitamins.
• Germ, the nutrient-rich embryo that contains vitamin E and trace minerals in addition to B-complex vitamins.

Easy Ways to Get More Whole Grains

• Eat whole wheat bread rather than white refined bread
• For breakfast enjoy cooked oatmeal or whole grain ready to eat cereal
• Eat brown rice rather than white rice
• Make macaroni and cheese with whole wheat pasta
• Use whole grains in dishes, such as barley in vegetable soup or stew and bulgar wheat in casseroles
• Look for whole grain snack chips like baked tortilla chips
• Popcorn is a good whole grain snack especially with little added salt and butter
• Substitute up to half of the flour with whole wheat flour when making pancakes, muffins, cookies or quick breads.

- Barbara Farner, U of I Educator

BAKED MUSHROOM RICE

1 cup rice, uncooked

1/2 cup green onions, sliced, including tops

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced

1-1/2 cups chicken broth or stock

1/2 cup dry sherry

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

Butter a small baking dish and pour in uncooked rice. In a medium saucepan, sauté green onions in butter until softened. Add mushrooms and continue to sauté until mushrooms are softened. Pour in chicken broth, sherry, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and pour over rice in baking dish. Cover baking dish, and bake in a 375° oven for 23 to 30 minutes or until rice is done.

PUMPKIN PUDDING

1-1/2 cups cold milk
1 cup whipping cream, divided
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin
In a bowl, combine milk, 1/2 cup cream, pudding mix and pie spice; whisk until
thickened & smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in pumpkin. Spoon into dessert dishes. Whip the remaining cream until stiff peaks form; place a dollop on each serving of pudding. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice. Serve with gingersnaps if desired. Serves 4-6.