Eggplant Parmigiana

Dinner tonight was Eggplant Parmigiana. I have always wanted to make this dish because I have had this at relatives and out at restaurants; it has always been a dish I have enjoyed! At least until tonight…how can a recipe with four ingredients be difficult? Well, if you have never cooked eggplant before it is a test of patience. After frying a few slices in olive oil, I quickly figured they were never going to brown and had absorbed all the oil. What a greasy mess!!! In order not to ruin the dinner I looked up on the internet a few tips and decided to go with the broil method. Lightly oil and broil each side for five minutes… again a lot of time but at least the vegetable wasn’t drowning in oil. The finished product looked very similar to the lasagna photo so I am glad I took a picture of the fresh eggplant. Layers of eggplant, sauce and mozzarella cheese baked nicely and served with mostaccioli on the side gave it the fill factor. 

Although dinner was quite late it was also pretty good (not exactly like the restaurants but very tasty)!

Lasagna Old Style

My guests for Sunday dinner were my mom and dad who brought the wine for this occasion. The main meal chosen was Lasagna Old Style which is a basic recipe including ground beef and pork. Yes, I have made lasagna before so this wasn’t all that new, but it did remind of the time it takes to prepare a homemade meal. The first course was sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil. I forgot fresh basil and the dish needed a little more salt but overall we loved the taste. Dinner was served with a salad, warm Italian bread and baked garlic. My salads are pretty basic, romaine lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes with a light raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Pinched for time so next time I will make a homemade dressing. I love garlic…the smell of baked garlic spread on fresh bread further enhanced all the flavors of the meal. The red wine was by Masciarelli – a 2009 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo. I am not a wine connoisseur; but I really enjoyed the taste which was not too dry and not too sweet. After all that heavy food we finished the meal with coffee and cookies from Caputo’s. Sunday dinner was a success and well worth the time!

Ada Boni's Talismano della Felicità

For those who know my mom it is amazing to think she was actually going to throw away a cookbook! Not to my surprise she asked if I wanted it; I threw it in my bag, put it on a shelf and here we are today (years later). I know there are newer books but I can't give up on this book, the Eighteenth Printing September 1969 copyright 1950, without trying a few recipes. I am still undecided where to begin but the cooking experience will begin this weekend!