This was my trio of furry children. It was very rare that they would all three be in a chair together. Usually somebody would get tired of somebody else and either say words or slap somebody or just leave. So, it’s not the best quality picture but it does capture a rare moment.
That’s Abby on the left, Lucky in the middle and Critter on the right. I lost Critter last June from some unknown malady of old age. He was 17 years old.
Tasty Tuesday November 17
This eggplant recipe is a meal, just add a nice salad on the side with some garlic bread. And it can be easily reduced to be a meal for two. When I do that, I only use one eggplant but go ahead and use the same amount of the other ingredients and just heap them high when I stuff them.
Depending on its sources paprika can be sweet, spicy or smoky. Generic paprika, by this I mean one that is simply labeled “paprika” whatever the brand, is usually the sweet kind. Spanish paprika is more likely to be spicy than Hungarian. Smoked paprika is a little darker red because it has been, you guessed it, smoked to give it a deeper, richer smoky flavor. They are all made from the same pepper that is harvested, dried and then ground up. So you see, it’s more than red dust to garnish deviled eggs and stuff.
And as always, buy or at least store your herbs and spices in glass jars. The plastic ones let the volatile oils that give the flavor escape unless you use them up fast. I never get rid of a glass spice jar, they can be washed and reused many times. And bulk herbs are so cheap to buy at Central Market.
Creamed Eggplant in Eggplant Shells
2 large eggplants
Olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
12 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 tsp lemon juice
2 Tblsp flour
1 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried marjoram (oregano can be substituted here)
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley (fresh really does make a difference, I consider dried parsley to just be pretty green confetti to be sprinkled on for looks only)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Paprika, as garnish
Cut eggplant in half lengthwise, cut off stem end. Scoop center from eggplant with serrated spoon, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick shells, coarsely chop it.
Place eggplant shells, cut sides up, in in greased baking dish, brushing lightly with olive oil. Place eggplant pulp in greased baking dish, brushing lightly with olive oil. Bake both pans, uncovered at 400 degrees until shells are lightly softened and eggplant pulp is tender 10 to 15 minutes.
Coat large skillet lightly with olive oil, heat over medium heat. Sauté onion, mushroom, bell pepper and garlic until tender. Add lemon juice. Mix in flour and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Stir milk, Worchestershire sauce and herbs into saucepan, heat to boiling. Boil, stirring, until thickened. Stir in eggplant pulp, season with salt and pepper.
Spoon eggplant mixture into shells. Sprinkle with Parmesan and Paprika. Reduce oven to 375 degrees and bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
Tasty Tuesday, November 3
It’s been a while, I’ve gotten out of the habit of doing these, I’ve been distracted by other things.
I was looking for something to cook for my Friday night art group, and we have vegetarians in the group, so I got out a cookbook to look for something new and different. There’s two recipes in the book I have cooked and enjoyed, both using eggplant, and that turns out to be all I need from this book. So, I will share them with you and save them that way and take the book to Half Price Books and recycle it for someone else to use. They’ll know by the stain on that one page that that recipe was cooked a few times. Maybe they’ll be encouraged to try it.
Eggplant Provençal
Olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 small or one large eggplant (about 2 pounds) peeled, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
2 small bell peppers, cut into 1/4 inch strips
2 cups chopped tomatoes or 1 can petite diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup sliced olives
1 Tblsp drained capers
3/4 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1\2 cup dry breadcrumbs
2 Tblsp grated Parmesan
1 Tblsp butter melted.
Use enough olive oil in a large skillet to sauté onion and garlic 3-4 minutes; add eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes. Cook, covered over medium heat until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir parsley, olives, capers and herbs into mixture, season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into 11×7 inch baking dish. Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan and butter, sprinkle over the top. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered until mixture is bubble and top browned, about 30 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each.
Dragonfly's Dance 