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Eggplant with ricotta, roasted garlic and red bell pepper
I know it has been a while since I last posted a recipe but I can assure you I continue to cook regularly, making mostly Italian inspired plates like my eggplant rolls filled with ricotta cheese, roasted garlic and red bell pepper.
This can serve as a very satisfying side served with a pasta or presented as a first course appetizer. The ingredients are very affordable and the preparation and cooking time varies if you roast your own vegetables and make your own red sauce or purchase roasted veggies and use jarred sauce; for the record I like making my own sauce and roasting my veggies.
Ingredients for this meal include: Tomato / red sauce, Eggplant, Ricotta cheese, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Roasted Garlic clove, Eggs, Bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Parsley, Olive oil, Italian seasoning, Salt and Pepper.
The first step is peeling and slicing eggplant length-wise and breading it for frying. I use 2 egg yolks with a splash of water, a cup of bread crumbs (panko crumbs also work as a substitute), 1/3 cup of grated cheese, a bunch of chopped parsley with a dash of salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. When I bread the thinly sliced eggplant I don’t use flour. I dip the eggplant in the egg and water then I place it into a plate of the combined dry ingredients before adding to a pan with olive oil in high heat. I only fry the vegetable for a minute or two on each side – long enough to help the breading stick to the eggplant. Then I place it on a plate with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
As the eggplant rests, I make the filling that includes a roasted red bell pepper and 4-6 cloves of roasted garlic that I’ve puréed. I stir that with a half cup of Ricotta cheese and black pepper until all the ingredients have combined. Then I take a Tablespoon (or more) of filling and spread it along the eggplant and roll it.
Next, place the eggplant into an oven-safe glass pyrex dish that has a ladle full of red sauce. The red sauce will help prevent the eggplant from sticking to the dish. When all the eggplant has been placed in the dish add more sauce over the vegetable to keep everything moist and to add flavor. Lastly, sprinkle more grated cheese and chopped parsley then cover with foil and add to a preheated oven set to 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Devotion: Excavating Bob Mizer in NYC
80 Washington Square East Gallery – New York City
Are you a photography enthusiast? You may want to check out this exhibit in NYC, that runs through February 15, 2014.
DEVOTION is the first major institutional solo presentation of Bob Mizer’s work to be shown anywhere in the world. Bob Mizer, was an American photographer and filmmaker whose work spans five decades starting in the 1950s. He is widely known as a pioneer in erotic male photography, but much of his other work was put aside by Mizer and went unseen until this exhibit in New York City that runs through February 15, 2014.
More information about Bob Mizer: Bob Mizer Foundation
More information about Devotion: 80 WSE Gallery
Boxing Day
Traditionally, Boxing Day is the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts from their bosses or employers, known as a “Christmas box”.
Today, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December in many of the Commonwealth Nations. My good friend and blogger 40-Something Life who is originally from England has turned this into an annual celebration with a fabulous dinner party planned each year and later tonight Sergio and I will head over to her place for a fabulous dinner – this year’s theme is Mediterranean. Much wine will be consumed and if past years are any indication, a round of drunk Twister is likely.
Happy Boxing Day
Merry Christmas: Riding Bus 19 to the Top
I can’t think of a better story to share on Christmas Day. This is a real life story that takes place here in Boston. It is about overcoming adversity; it is about family bonds and how important they are; and most importantly, it is about believing in oneself and the conviction it takes to follow your dreams.
I encourage you to read the story one Tweet at a time here: Making Good From Almost Nothing. The series of Tweets from December 16, 2013 are heartwarming. Once you read @Billy_Baker’s Tweets check out the video from last year. George and Johnny Huynh’s story is one that should be shared. I hope you find it as touching and inspirational as I do.
*Thanks to my sister, Elizabeth, for sharing.
T’was the night before Christmas
Well its not quite night in Boston just yet, but it will be before I realize it. Today will be spent running errands and getting my home ready for friends who will stop by this evening. This is a tradition Sergio and I started a few years back when we realized we had friends who would not be going home for Christmas. We dubbed it an orphans Christmas Eve and each year host this relaxing get together.
Sadly, this year I’m hosting the party without Sergio. His father has been quite ill and he was able to head back to Brazil to be with his family. While I’m happy he can be there, his absence is something I can’t quite get past and so I look forward to having a few friends here to keep me company. Sergio was unable to get out on the buddy passes for Christmas and now plans to visit after the holiday so thankfully I’ll have Sergio home for Christmas (and our Christmas Eve open house).
I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas. For those who don’t celebrate the holiday, I’d still like to say “good tidings we bring” as the song’s lyrics say. I’m not 100% certain what “tidings” are but it sure sounds nice.
Coco Peru goes to K-Mart (for the holidays)
Poor Ms. Coco Peru is a bit tense this time of year and is all out of her Celestial Seasoning’s Tension Tamer Tea. Is her shopping expedition successful? Watch her video below.
Temptation Tuesday
Earlier this year English, Olympic Diver, Tom Daley, came out as Bisexual and revealed he was dating Oscar-winning screen writer, Dustin Lance Black. Although I had always assumed Daley was gay, I give him credit. Coming out is an intensely personal thing, and I can’t imagine facing such public scrutiny.
Happy Alcoholidays
Have a wonderful alcoholiday!
Gauge your political outrage guys
I recognize that our society is obsessed with all things pop culture. Exhibit A: Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty – Otherwise known as some hick from some backwater town who happens to have a show on a second tier cable channel garners more than his share of outrage from mainstream media and gay blogs for quoting the Bible and essentially saying he dislikes gays.
–Shocker–
Perhaps we might want to stop obsessing over what quacks like Phil Robertson say and start focusing on countries identified as ‘allies’and demand they stop imprisoning, castrating and killing men and women because they happen to be gay. If even half the mainstream news and gay blogs focused on these stories I think we could say we are making progress and affecting change.
When we do that – then I’ll know America truly is energy independent. It is no coincidence that these OPEC nations Qatar, U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia are given a pass for such atrocious human rights violations while America blusters about some racist, homophobic hick.
All I want for Christmas
It’s time for a bit of shameless pandering so if you happen to have a profile on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter, I’d ask that you…
Monday blues
Normally Monday mornings are a tough time but the abbreviated work week due to the Christmas holiday makes this a rather unique Monday morning and more relaxing than most.
Yankee Swap at Middlesex tonight 7-11pm
Looking for something different to do tonight? Check out Yankee Swap at The Middlesex in Central Square from 7 – 11pm.
Music by Boston ex-pat & LA supastah DJ James Cerne & Begbick. Also just added Ian Diver of Show Me Your Stuff & Controversy and
Special performance by Severity Stone.
The Middlesex at 315 Mass. Ave 7PM to 11PM
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