Using up the CSA box: eggplant. And, Dog saves Dinner.

Still using up that weekly farm box.  We try to cook through most of them before the new weekly box.  I thought I didn't like eggplant, and we are getting one or two a week.  But I am loving any variation of my made-up rataouille. It's become my new comfort food!

I heated olive oil in my old enameled cast iron pot.  Add roughly chopped onions, peeled and roughly chopped raw eggplant, a few carrots, 6 chopped plum tomatoes , a crushed garlic clove; I threw in what my farmer calls "spicy peppers", seeds removed but left whole so I can remove before serving, because we are not all, in my family, fond of biting heat.   Salt pepper and cumin to taste.  I added a drained two-cup can of chickpeas and a cup of canned chopped tomatoes because I wanted it saucier tonight.  You might add chopped green peppers, chopped zucchini.  Cook until the eggplant darkens and is soft to bite and the rice is ready.

Grocery shopping online I accidentally bought something like 25 lbs of rice (the photo looked like a small 1 lb bag and cost no more!)  AND I  split bulk oatmeal with my college student's apartment (they are living of course on overnight oatmeal "bakes").  So we are now in the grain business.

For my student:  you cook rice like this.  Ratio 2:1 water to rice.  To match my pot of ratatouille I used 4 cups of water and 2 cups rice.  Boil the water.  Add the rice, (salt and/or butter optional, I skip it) turn heat to lowest setting and cover the pot.  When the water is all absorbed, remove from heat, fluff with fork.  Total time:  20 minutes.

ACTUALLY MY DOG SAVED THE DINNER!  I joined my father on the backyard patio to chat, just for a few minutes, with the window open to smell the good cooking.  My dog came to me stood up with her paws on my knees and a panicky alert cry.  I suddenly thought, I bet the dinner is about to burn!  Sure enough, just in time, it was the eggplant and rice, both done at the same time, liquid gone and a few charred chickpeas, but the pot bottom ISN'T burned!

Serve the eggplant over the rice.  Serves 5-6 as main dish for hearty appetites.

Mmmmm.  My fussy vegetarian and my classic-fine-diner both loved it!  Sweet tasty and warming after a pool day and as the evening falls earlier!


Thanks Dog!