A Christmas Wish from ???

I know it's been about three months since I posted anything here, but this photo deserved to be seen!  Maybe it's the kick in the pants I need to visit my blog a little more often!

My daughter and I went to Water Tower Place in Chicago on Sunday, and one of the stores (I think it was Free People) had an adorable wish tree decorating the front window.  This was the first little tag I looked at.    On his tag, he wrote, "I wish to find my true love.  He who finds a good wife, finds favor with the Lord." I just wanted to let the guy who wrote this know that he forgot to put his name and phone number on the back of the tag!  His chances of  finding true love could have improved immensely!  LOL!  Wishing all of you readers a wonderful season in all of the ways you celebrate - may all of your wishes come true (but do your part, too!)

 

“I've wished for things and never really had the chance...It's time to stop dreaming and do something about it. You've got to know what you want, then...go.”

― Deb Caletti, The Six Rules of Maybe 

Easy Baked Eggplant!

At the local community college where I work, the horticulture department started a “farmer’s market” to help use their excess supply of garden goodies.  Today I came home with two Italian Heirloom Eggplants, a couple of different varieties of garlic, some banana peppers and a bag of potatoes.

I decided to try a baked eggplant recipe that turned out sooo good, that I just had to share it with you! I started out by finding a good basic recipe from the Mr. Food website.  But the recipe called for mayonnaise, which I don’t keep in my fridge.  I do have some eggs, though, so I did some adjusting and came up with this….I hope you try it sometime!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Slice your eggplant into ½” slices

Sprinkle with salt on both sides to help absorb some of the moisture, and let it sit for 15 minutes.  I’ve read in a few places that the final product won’t be as soggy after it’s been baked. 
While your eggplant slices are resting in the salt, pour some seasoned bread crumbs in a bowl or plate.  I had plain bread crumbs in my pantry, so I added a few teaspoons of Italian seasoning.
Crack an egg and put it in a separate bowl or plate.

After 15 minutes, dip the eggplant slices into the egg, then the bread crumbs, and place the slices in an oiled baking tray.

I decided to add some shredded parmesan and some fresh diced tomatoes on top.Bake for about 30 minutes or until the breading is a lovely golden brown.

 

Serve with some fresh fruit, a cold six grain rice salad with orange peppers, walnuts and chopped fresh mint,  and a glass of herb infused water (or your favorite wine in your favorite wine glass….I’m having some plum wine today!  Yum!)

 

What's that?  You want to know what kind of rice that is?  It's Kagayaki six grain rice, and contains black rice, purple barley, hull-less barley, rye berries, red rice, and short grain brown rice.  I bought it at my (not so) local Mistuwa store.  Well worth the one hour drive to get it though! 

Healthy Food Rating:  Pretty darn healthy
Taste factor:  ditto
Ease to prepare:  Really! And minimum clean up, too.  While the eggplant is cooking, you have plenty of time to wash the dishes and prepare your lunch for the next day!

Thanks today go to Linda for encouraging me to eat healthier, the horticulture department at CLC for their bounty of vegetable goodness and Diana for the very special wine glass!

Bon appetit! 

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
Virginia Woolf 

Quinoa with Black Beans and Corn

Good Morning!

I just made a delicious dish that I wanted to share with you!  I made it yesterday when my sister and my two daughters came over to visit, and we all loved it.  We loved it so much, that I made another batch this morning to drop off at my girl's house today.  Then I'm off to the pottery studio to make more bowls like the yellow and green ones above.  I didn't make the plastic bowls...lol!

I found the recipe on the back of the Quinoa package that I bought at Target.  I adjusted it slightly based on the ingredients I had around my house.  It would be a perfect quick meal to take to lunch or a wonderful side dish to serve with grilled salmon (which I plan to do tomorrow night!).  So, here it is...enjoy!

Quinoa with Black Beans and Corn

Cook 1 cup Quinoa according to package directions
While that is cooking, prepare the following:

1 diced Red Pepper
1 15 oz. can of Corn (or 1 cup frozen corn, cooked)
1 15 oz. can Black Beans, rinsed

3 T Lemon or Lime Juice
2 T Olive Oil
2 tsp Ground Cumin

1/2 c. Sunflower Seeds
1/2 c. Walnuts (or Pecans), chopped

Optional: 
1/4 c. Cilantro, chopped
1 Chipotle Pepper in Adobo Sauce, finely chopped

Toss all the ingredients together and enjoy!

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
Virginia Woolf