Eggplants with Shallots and Ginger

I first got this recipe from a cookbook I borrowed from the library. After making this dish once I was hooked. Its eggplant season, and I don't know a cook who wouldn't want another delicious eggplant recipe to add to their collection. My mom grows eggplant in her garden, and is up to her earlobes in this purple veggie. I raved to her about this dish, and of course she wanted it. Being the smart woman I am I decided to search the internet before I typed the whole recipe by hand. I found it here, on Mark Bittman's food blog hosted by the New York Times.

The recipe calls for chicken, but I omitted it- I'm a vegetarian. I did make chicken though- along side in another pan for my meat eating boyfriend. Below is the recipe I used with a few adaptations from the original.

Ingredients

• 6 large shallots
  
• 1/4 cup grape seed oil
  
• 1 to 1 1/4 pounds eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes (skin on)
  
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 chicken breast
  
• 1/4 cup or more minced fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Peel shallots, and cut in half. Place oil in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium high. Add shallots cook until they start browning. Add eggplant, salt and pepper, and lower heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant softens, about 15 minutes. Preheat broiler to lo.
   
2. When eggplant begins to brown, add half the ginger, and cook 3 minutes or so more, until eggplant is very tender and the mixture fragrant. The eggplant will not be crisp, this is a comfort dish- go with the soft texture.
   
3. Meanwhile, rub chicken breast with salt, pepper and remaining ginger. Broil about 5 inches from the heat source for 3 minutes a side or until done.
4. Stir half the cilantro into eggplant mixture. Serve chicken breasts on a bed of eggplant. Garnish with remaining cilantro.

We also made a side of couscous, it was delicious.

Adventures in Cooking

This week I plan to share a few recipes Ryan and I have made since we moved in together. Our taste palate is relatively similar- if not spot on, and we are both willing to experiment.

This is Zucchini Bread IV. I
modified the recipe a little, I took out nuts and cut down on sugar and oil. Here's what I did.

Jen's Zucchini Bread
a modified recipe from here.

Equipment

• Oven
• Whisk
• 2 Large Bowls
• 1 9X5 inch Loaf Pan
  

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
  
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups grated zucchini (skin removed)
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. Beat eggs until frothy. Add Oil applesauce and sugar. Mix in zucchini and vanilla. In another bowl whisk all dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, and salt. Add to eggy mixture in three parts. Mix until just combined.
3. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick come out clean.

Adie & Polly

Adie, a pretty special 4 year old, and Polly the Polaroid made beautiful photos. Adie's mom helps out a little too- by posting the pictures on the internet and types the artist statement.

Dee

Rudy, my step-dog, and I often hit the streets together. We walk all around town, and sometimes meet people along the way. A few weeks ago we met a group of homeless people. The most memorable in the group was Dee. She put a gorilla mask on and sang The Twist by Chubby Checker. When I told her that my friends wouldn't believe me if I told them the story of the singing, dancing Dee in a gorilla mask, she told me that I better take a picture as proof.
I saw Dee last week while riding my bike through Washington Square Park, and she was all smiles and waves.

Purdy

This is my friend Erica Saellam, shes great. She and I both went to Kutztown, and often spotted one another in the art building. Erica majored in communication Design with an emphasis in fine metals.
Currently, she works for an amazing jewelery designer, Lenora Dame, creating awesome ideas and jewelry.


Here is just a taste of the wonderful things you can find on Lenora's website.









Alphabet Bracelet
Bracelet from the Bohemian Collection







Silk Ribbon Key Accented with Alabaster Rhinestone Bead
Earrings from the Romantic Collection











Czech Glass Fruit Cluster Pendant
Pendant from the Retro Collection

Nice

I read(lurk) a half dozen blogs. This blog has been mentioned a few times and it's message has stuck with me since I first discovered it.
The blog is called Operation NICE and is run by Melissa Morris Ivone. Its all about being nice: sharing stories about others being nice to you, ideas about how you can spread nice, upbeat stories, and much, much more. Check it out.

Its nice to be nice.

Agnes

Agnes is quite the spacial lady around these parts- shes my bike.

Bike riding is a necessity for me since we don't have a car in the city, so naturally I was a little shaken when I found out her spinning chain whorlymbobber (its a technical term...really) was out of whack. You see, there was a bit of a spill that resulted in a brused bottom,torn dress, and a big embarrased red face. I was not riding Agnes; I'm a big klutz and fell while standing next to my bike on the sidewalk. Anyway, having a bike with a catching chain could be pretty dangerious. Thank goodness for Via Bicycle. The rough and tumble bike gurus fixed her up in no time at all. Now you can see me riding around Philladelphia with a big smile on a sassy bike I call Agnes.

Seeing

Seeing what a child sees- magic

숲속의 잠자는 공주

Sleeping Beauty
c-print
2004

Photographer- Yeondoo Jung
Series- Wonderland