PICKLED EGGPLANT/MELANZANA

Eggplants are having a good season. I bought a large box and decided to grill a few on the barbecue. I really like to make a few jars of eggplant to eat throughout the year with a new piece of  fresh bread.

Sliced and salted to stay overnight with something wearing them down to drain the moisture, they can be put in jars with the olive oil, vinegar and spices the next day.

Good to go! Of course this is my thing to do while Barb goes to the Ex with the girls and grandchildren.

I have my eggplant while they have cotton candy and caramel apples! What would you chose?

PICKLED EGGPLANT OR MELANZANE SOTT'OLIO-THE WAY MAMMA MADE IT

I decided to make to make some Melanzane Sott'olio- Pickled eggplant. It was a dish or rather a canning activity my mother would make. It is another way to use eggplants. It is great eaten separately or on a sandwich.

INGREDIENTS

Eggplants.
White wine vinegar. Water.
Oregano.
Garlic.
Olive oil.
Hot peppers/pepperoncini.
Bay leaf pieces.
Salt. Pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS

Find the right size mason jars and lids. Boil to clean or just put them in the dishwasher to sanitize to have the pickled eggplant in sterilized jars.

Take as many eggplants as you want to make.
Peel off the skin.
Slice into long strips.
Put in a bowl with a rack at the bottom or colander.
Sprinkle with salt to help the eggplant lose moisture or to "sweat".
Place paper towels to absorb the moisture.
I let mine rest for 8 hours.

When ready to pickle, boil 1/2 wine vinegar and 1/2 water and put amounts of the strips to boil but just for about 2-3 minutes to keep firm. Pat dry
Meanwhile have a chopped garlic, hot peppers, oregano mixed to add some to each jar.
Put olive oil on the bottom of the jar and put in your strips adding the spicy mixture.

Poke down with a fork, spoon or the end of a wooden spoon.
No room at the top. Fill jars completely.
Put a piece of bay leaf at the top of each jar.
Add more oil to cover the strips if needed.
Seal tightly.

The best part of making this dish is eating it. I already finished one jar.

#eggplant#pickledeggplant#makinghomemadeeggplant#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

ITALIAN VEGGIE MIX-VEDURE ENSIEME

A good and easy way to enjoy some vegetables is my "veggie mix". It is a fun dish to use eggplant if you are not a fan of eggplant.

INGREDIENTS

Eggplant.
Zucchini.
Red pepper.
Potato.
Frozen tomatoes or canned tomatoes.
Olive Oil. Garlic. Salt. Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Chop and dice all the vegetables to have them ready.
Fry some diced garlic-clove or two in olive oil in the pan.
Put the chopped veggies in the pan to cook.
Add the tomatoes. I like to use my frozen ones from the summer-peeling off the skin when warm. But you can use canned if you want.
The juice from the tomatoes gives it the moisture needed.
Salt and pepper to taste.


The dish is ready when you have your veggies cooked as much as you like. The dish for me is mushy so the veggies are well cooked.
It can be eaten as a lunch or side dish. With some crunchy bread of choice it is a tasty non-meat dish.
An added note-other veggies of choice can be added like carrots, onions, green peppers etc. It is a good way to use any vegetables that are starting to soften or have bruised spots. Of course if you find you have added too much oil, just drain before eating.
#italianveggiemix#granpalovestocook#vedureensieme#potatoinaveggiemix#waystouseeggplant#waystousesucchini#redpepperinaveggiemix

STUFFED EGGPLANT/MELANZANA ALLA PARMIGIANA

The summer harvest is in the markets. One vegetable that is plentiful is the eggplant/melanzana. You either like the vegetable or you don't. My mother used to fry it in thin slices but it absorbed so much oil, it is not a dish I make anymore. Some Italians like to slice it and put it in jars in oil to eat as an appetizer or on a sandwich throughout the year.

I use it in my veggie mix. However, one of my favourite ways to make it and Barb loves it, is stuffed.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

INGREDIENTS

Eggplant- regular or Sicilian. One eggplant makes two servings.

Garlic- 3 buds or more.

Bread crumbs- 1/2 cup per 1/2 eggplant. Some Italians like to make their own by using stale bread, made into cubes soaked in some water for moisture.

Parmesean/parmigiano cheese. Grated. Have as much as needed for the number of people you are serving.

Can of diced or whole tomatoes. You can use a fresh tomato if you want.

Olive oil.

Parsley.

Orgeano.

Salt, pepper.

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash the eggplant well.

2. Cut off the stem end. Cut the eggplant lengthwise in half. Place in a cassorole dish.

3. Scoop out the belly of the eggplant, leaving some pulp in the shell.

4. Dice the scooped eggplant. Dice the garlic buds, Chop the parsley.

5. Mix the eggplant, garlic, parsley with the bread crumbs and some olive oil-enough to make it moist. Add some oregano, salt and pepper to taste.

6. Put the mixture in the shells.

7. Add a generous portion of diced tomatoes on top. If whole tomatoes, chop into pieces to add on top.

8. Sprinkle with parmesean cheese on top of the tomatoes. Again add as much as you like to eat. Some people would also add mozarella or pecorino cheese. As a diabetic person less cheese is less calories so I do not use additional cheese.

9. Put in a preheated oven at 375 degrees.

10. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the outer shell is tender when poked by a fork.

11. When removed from the oven, let sit for awhile so it sets.

This dish is a good one to make when you are baking or making other oven dishes. Saves on energy.

As you can see the portions are big. Barb usually eats 1/2 of a piece, taking the other half to work for her lunch the next day. So one eggplant could make 4 servings if needed. Yes, it smells good when baking in the house.
#stuffedeggplant#parmigianocheese#bakingintheoven#sicilianeggplant#twokindsofeggplant#regulareggplant#buyingvegetablesatalocalfarm#cookingeggplantItalianstyle

MY CANADIAN VEGETABLE GARDEN-GIARDINO ITALIANO

Good meals come from good fresh food. Italians always use the vegetables and fruit in season to make their meals. I have been busy- digging then planting my summer vegetable garden. So I am Italian and need tomatoes. I planted several different kinds. Lettuce, beans, eggplant, cucumbers and swiss chard are some of the other vegetables in my little plot. My herbs- oregano, rosemary,basil and parsley are in my little pots. Over the next few months I will share my summer recipes with you. It will be fun showing you the fresh vegetable then the dish it will become. For today, I want to rest my sore old muscles from all the gardening activity. Maybe a nap or two! Il bello giardino! Troppo lavoro! Sono stanco!