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 Ratatouille Spaghetti Pie

• 8 oz. Spaghetti, Linguine or Thin Spaghetti, uncooked
  1/2 cup skim milk
  1/4 cup egg substitute or 1 large egg white
  2 tsp. olive or vegetable oil
  1 large onion, coarsely chopped
  2 cups peeled, diced eggplant
  2 small zucchini or yellow squash, diced
  1 red or green bell pepper, diced
  3 cloves garlic, minced
  1 14 1/2-oz. can crushed or stewed tomatoes
  3 tbsp. tomato paste
  1/4 tsp. hot red pepper flakes
  1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
  4 oz. pepperoni slices, cut into quarters
  1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/4 cup seasoned Italian bread crumbs

Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. Toss hot pasta with milk and egg substitute. Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add pasta, pressing into an even layer.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, eggplant, squash, bell pepper and garlic; mix well. Cover; simmer over medium heat 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring once. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and hot red pepper flakes; mix well. Simmer uncovered 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in basil.

Heat oven to 425-o F. Spoon vegetable mixture evenly over pasta. Layer pepperoni on top. Combine cheese and bread crumbs; sprinkle over vegetables. Bake 15 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Deciduous Forest

This biome is in the mild temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Major regions are found in eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia.

Special features:

Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall. The natural decaying of the fallen leaves enriches the soil and supports all kinds of plant and animal life. The deciduous forest is a lively place, where oak, beech, ash, and maple trees are typical, and wildflowers, berries, and many types of insect and animal life abound. But the fertile soil is also good for people, and in Europe most of the deciduous forest has been destroyed to make room for farms and homes. In the U.S., the deciduous forest is a home for deer, American gray squirrels, wood mice, rabbits, raccoons, woodpeckers, cardinals, and finches, to name a few.