Stuffed Eggplant

This weeks CSA produce, had a bundle of yummy fruits and vegetables. I couldn't wait to eat the Eggplant. With the tip from my friend Gretchen, we found a recipe for Stuffed Eggplant.

Ingredients

• 1 large eggplant
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 onion, small diced
• 1 red pepper, small diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped basil leaves, chopped
• 1 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano, divided
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 2 chopped tomatoes

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Boil the scooped-out center part until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Drain the beef, removing the extra, unnecessary fat. Let cool briefly and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic together.

In a bowl mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, cooked beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, bread crumbs, and the egg.

Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly among the 2 halves.

Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese, season with salt and pepper, place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool briefly, slice widthwise and serve.

I think it looks good, what do you think?

I was surprised when I cut into the watermelon, thinking I would see the typical red color. However, we are pleasantly surprised at how good this watermelon tastes:)

Pickles, Pickles, and more Pickles!

We have cucumbers coming out of our ears! The CSA has been wonderful these past few weeks. We have more cucumbers than we can handle, so I decided to make my mom's awesome refrigerator pickles. It's the easiest thing and no "hot bath" is required for the canning.

You will need:

4 cups of vinegar

4 cups of sugar

3/4 cup salt

1 1/2 T celary seed

1 1/2 T mustard seed

1 1/2 T tumeric

Cucumbers (6-8)

Onion (2)

Slice cucumbers and 1-2 white onion. Divide into quart size mason jar. Mix together ingredients and whisk until sugar dissolved. Pour over cucumbers. Place jars into refridgerator. Shake daily, should be ready in 6 weeks. Good for 1 year. The mixture is enough for 4 qt. size mason jar.

Gift Idea: Snowman Wall Quilt

One of my goals for the year was to work on Christmas gifts throughout the year to minimize the stress during the holiday season. I've been aiming to complete 2 projects a month, and I've been pretty good with keeping to it.

My quilting experience is pretty minimal, so to improve my binding skills, etc I wanted to find a small project that wouldn't be too overwhelming. I also wanted to learn Applique, so this was the perfect project. YouTube is a great resource to watch how to video's on binding and needleturn applique. Little did I know, I used hand quilting thread which is very thick, so for my first applique project it was more fussy than it needed to be. I finally asked my friend Joanna who is amazing at Applique and Quilting for some advise. She blogged about it here.......

As for the tree's in the wall quilt, they were paper pieced together.......These three were the best of 6....each one taking 30-45 minutes, so you could say I was getting pretty frustrated. If I were to do this project again, I may omit the trees! Or come up with something easier/less time consuming.

I think the Snowman Wall Quilt turned out pretty cute:)

Sewing Project: Table Runner

I love green. I decided to make a table runner that would be nice for spring/summer seasons. I had some home decor fabric in my stash and completed this project in under 1 hour. Very simple, and also reversible. After measuring the table and comparing the size to a store bought table runner, I cut the fabric allowing 1/2 inch seam allowance. On one side, I added a coordinating fabric to each end. Then with right sides together, I sewed 1/2 inch seam leaving 4 inches at one end to turn right side out. After turning right side out, I ironed and topstitched the parameter. I think it turned out great! I love the contrast with our dark table.

Sewing Project: Reversible Shopper Bag

I've been on a bag making kick and totally love Amy Butler's Style Stitches. For my special friend Michelle, I decided to make the Reversible Everyday Shopper bag for her birthday....

It was very simple to make and took about 4 hours including cutting, interfacing, and sewing. Compared to the Cosmo bag, this one was super easy and less time consuming. I love the versatility of the bag and the fact that it is reversible. I was surprised how big the bag was once completed, but I think it would be a great overnight bag, beach bag, craft bag....endless options. I hope she likes it!

Nintendo Organization

My husband has been on a Nintendo kick for the past several months. This has included getting an older TV so that we could play Duck Hunt....because yes, the new flat screen TV's don't allow the gun to work! So after living with the TV on an heater and cords everywhere for the past couple months, I decided to surprise him with my organization skills:) While he was off with his friends to a Red Sox game, off to Ikea I went:)

Prior to the trip, I put all of his Nintendo stuff on the dining room table and grouped similar items. I then measured games, etc. to ensure getting the correct box and ample amount of storage. The Expedit Bookshelf was the perfect fit, as we are limited for space. but the $40 price tag was also perfect! I think it turned out pretty good and my hubby was thrilled!

Before:

After:

Happy Birthday Jon!

For my husband's birthday, he requested his favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I stumbled across a recipe with a little twist from MS Everyday Food magazine.

Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Pecan Cookies

Here is the recipe:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 1/4 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

1/2 tsp coarse salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temp

1 cup light-brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 lg egg

1 cup chopped toasted pecans

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer beat butter and brown sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scrapping down bowl as needed. Add vanilla and egg and beat until combined. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat just until combined. Fold in pecans and chocolate chips.

2. Drop dough by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake cookies until puffed and golden around edges 15 minutes (for my oven 10 minutes was perfect). Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. Makes 44

Enjoy!