Better Baking Breadcrumbs!

How will you try this Healthy Breading /Breadcrumb Alternative!?

For Healthy Breadcrumbs -- Use the following in Equal Parts:

Nutritional yeast
Chia seeds
Wheat germ
Flaxseed, ground

You could also add ground almonds, or any nut!, or some wheat bran!

Use this on anything you want to bread or as a topping to any casserole or other baked item.

Sprinkle it over veggies you are baking or anything at all!

It's the perfect alternative to traditional breadcrumbs, which are ENRICHED, filled with salt and other preservatives, and perhaps sugar.

If you prefer Italian flavored breading, just add whatever spices you fancy!

Nutritional yeast is a super, non-dairy Parmesan cheese substitute! 

CHIA seeds -- are superfoods for so many reasons, high in protein and fiber, as well as many vitamins and minerals, and they are high in omega-3 fats!

WHEAT germ -- this is basically the "embryo" of the grain -- so it's gotta have all the good stuff -- great source of iron and zinc, and one of the very best sources of folic acid, the nutrient so important for women of child-bearing age to get plenty of, to avoid birth defects, fiber, and phytochemicals that work as antioxidants!

Always (once opened) store in refrigerator in tightly sealed container to avoid rancidity.

Flaxseeds additionally provide fiber and omega-3 fats!

Try it this weekend, and instead of giving your family empty calories, you can give them all the extra nutrients that the above ingredients provide!

COMMENTS: What dishes do you use breading for?  Can you think of any good uses for Better Baking Breadcrumbs?

EASY Eggplant Parm

Eggplant Parmesan is traditionally a somewhat labor-intensive meal to prepare, as each piece of eggplant must be breaded and fried. THAT ALL CHANGES HERE!

Now eggplant parm can be nearly as easy as boiling a pot of pasta and opening a jar of sauce! By the way, I also recommend doing this, since this dish is delicious atop plain pasta, and sauce will be used for the eggplant.

Check out some pasta recommendations!
Barilla Plus is great!

EASY Eggplant Parm Ingredients:

1-2 eggplants
1/2 c ground flaxseed
1/2 c chia seed
1/2 c nutritional yeast (great substitute for Parmesan cheese)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 box whole wheat pasta

Toughest part comes first - cutting the eggplant - seriously, this is the hardest work you'll do! Cut the eggplant as paper-thin as you can. I think THIS is the secret to the recipe!

Do you love my eggplant piles?

Next, lay your slices on a glass pan, overlapping slightly. Salt. Repeat a second layer. Salt.

Now, just pour flax "eggs" (combine 3 Tbsp with 1/2 c + 1 Tbsp warm water) over the eggplant, followed by a generous amount of ground flax, chia, and nutritional yeast!

I've been coming up with quantities for my recipes because I think people fear messing up a meal, but I assure you I've made my recipes many, many times, with very few measuring cups, and it's pretty hard to mess them up. If you've got SOME TASTY INGREDIENTS, you can hardly go wrong! If you can get comfortable with this method of cooking, you'll SAVE TIME by skipping the measuring, and end up with fewer cups, spoons, and bowls to clean!

The more generous you are with the FLAX, CHIA, and nutritional yeast, the more nutrient packed and healthier the dish will be.
EXPERIMENT!






Have you or any guys you know ever used a strap wrench? It's plumbing tool, very HANDY in the kitchen! Different sizes help open different size jars in a flash!




Wonder about jarred spaghetti sauce?

Lastly, pour a jar of spaghetti sauce over everything. You can give the pan a shake to be sure it's all sort of even.

Now, bake at 375 degrees or so. The temperature doesn't matter too much. Here is a great benefit of vegetarian cooking: NO need to worry about cooking "enough"! 30-40 minutes should be good.

The longer the better as tomato sauce gets richer and richer as it cooks.  Wonder why eggplant is so good for you?

No final product photos to share -- everyone wanted to it up too fast to worry about pics! Hope you enjoy as much as we do! Anna even takes this to school for lunch and eats it cold!

Instead of topping pasta, you can use it as a pizza topping!  YUM! Easy Eggplant Parmesan

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK: What is your favorite ethnic cuisine? I majorly love Italian (of course!), Indian, AND Mexican!