Eggplant Bisque

2 medium eggplants
1 large white potato
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1 medium fennel bulb, white part only, chopped
5 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 springs fresh oregano, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon dried margoram
1 teaspoon tumeric

Preheat oven to 375°

Using a potato peeler, peel off about half the skin of the eggplant and all the skin of potato. Cut into 1-1/2” chunks and put in large bowl. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons EVOO and 1 teaspoon of your favorite dried herbs (parsley, oregano, or thyme). Toss well. Place on cookie sheet (OK to overlap). Roast for 45 minutes in 375° oven turning once or twice. Remove, cool, then coarsely chop and set aside.

In the meantime, in a medium stock pot over medium/high heat sauté onion in a tablespoon of EVOO for 12 minutes until just slightly browned, then add fennel and garlic and sauté another 10 minutes. Add 1 and a 1/2 cups stock, bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer for 8 minutes.

Add eggplant and potatoes to onion/fennel mixture along with 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth or water), margoram, turmeric and springs of fresh oregano.

Bring to boil quickly, turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes. Using a ladle, in batches, puree soup in a blender. Add it back to the soup pot and stir. Heat and enjoy.

The Secret to Great Health

I recently went on a three day juice feast cleanse. It really makes sense to cleanse our insides now and again. Perhaps we should place as much emphasis on internal cleansing as we do on external hygiene, such as brushing our teeth or washing our hands. If you are middle-aged, you’ve taken about 15,000 showers in your lifetime, and you’ve brushed your teeth close to 30,000 times. Still, you won’t stop doing that just because you’ve done it so many times. Here’s an interesting question: If you have to keep cleansing your skin and teeth daily, then wouldn't you think it makes equal sense to clean the inside of your body at least periodically?
The importance of internal cleansing can best be summed up in the words of Dr. Paul Bragg, one of the “fathers” of natural medicine in the U.S. and the author of dozens of highly successful health books:
“The secret to great health can be described in three words: Cleanse Your Body! Engrave these three words permanently in your memory.”
For my three day cleanse I used the Izo Cleanze. It was clearing and healing on many levels. I highly recommend it. Please visit: http://www.izocleanze.com/