(Re) Chic

I've been dying to find a way to use the eggplant that I grew.  I tried it fried and it was ok, but I wanted something more creative.  So I did some research and found a few different recipes for Eggplant Lasagna.  That is, lasagna with sliced eggplant that replaces the noodles.  I mostly used the recipe from About.com  when I was making it but I pulled inspiration from this recipe on Country Living.   The Finished Product Since I only had two small eggplants I decided to make an experimental lasagna in a loaf pan, just in case it turned out terrible.  I would definitely recommend cutting your slices about an 1/8 an inch thick.  I sliced mine as thin as possible to get more slices but they just got overcooked in the over so they weren't very noodle-like in consistency.  I would also recommend peeling them, the skin was quite leathery after being cooked twice.  Also be sure to either blacken (as suggested in Countr...

Now that summer is finally drawing to a close it is time to start some garden clean-up and glean what is left from the garden beds.  Last week I took a moment to do that at the Verizon Telecommunications Beds that we have been using to donate the produce to Sugartree Ministries.   In clearing out the beds I cut down an entire sunflower forest and saved the heads (they're currently drying in the sun room in my office) as well as collected seeds from eggplant, basil, and dill.  This way I'm ready for more gardening when the season comes again next year and I'm already preparing for a delicious fall snack.   I also watched in hope at a few pumpkin seed sprouts that we planted in these beds.  At this rate we probably won't have pumpkins until December but if the pumpkins survive it will be a great winter treat for our patrons at the food pantry.   One more week of Hunger Action Month left to go.  I don't feel like I've made that much of a differ...