What do you do with...?

[HappyHappyMommy]

There are foods that just stump me...or that I get into such a rut preparing. Can we exchange ideas on how to prepare various foods? I'll start...

What do you do with EGGPLANT? I've been getting eggplant in my farm share lately. It's not my favorite food, but I don't dislike it. I'm kind of blah about it. Any suggestions on how to prepare it, maybe combined with other things so it's not the star of the dish, but more of a complimentary ingredient?

Looking forward to your suggestions and your questions on "What do you do with ... ?"

[Shami]

eggplant potato curry

start by frying your potato chunck (cover and use plenty of butter/oil)

while thats going...

cut a whole onion(i like sweet/yellow onion) I like sliced but you could chop it

put your onion in, keep covered

dont forget the garlic

cumin

yellow curry

salt

then put the eggplant in last (cut in chunks)

red chili if you like spicy

cook until egg plant is tender

One little tip:  if you really don't like eggplant, put it in earlier and if will cook down to nothing.  You won't even know it's there.  And don't skimp on the butter/oil. I add some while cooking too.

More tips: use brown russet pot. they break off a little and makes a nice gravy as you stir it a lot.  Add a little water or broth to make it more gravy like.  serve with rice.

[Emaye]

Eggplants just give and give, don't they? I have tons coming out of my garden too!  

Here is how I prepare mine: I cut them in circles and soak it to take the bitter taste out of it.  Then I drain it.  

While it is draining, I prepare a bowl with pressed garlic (however much you want to use), salt, generous amount of olive oil, other Italian herbs (fresh thyme, oregano etc), balsamic vinegar and mix.  After that, I put the egg plants in a baking pan, drizzle the mix and bake at like 350, until it is done.  This is super easy and a delicious side dish.  

I sometimes add halved cherry tomatoes as well.  And with enough olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt to taste, it can even be your pasta sauce!

Enjoy.

[Chloe'sMama]

olive oil and garlic salt... bbq until soft and has some nice grill marks on it.

I also make a Spanish Pisto with tomato, onion, zuchinni, garlic and eggplant.  Cook it together with olive oil and salt and pepper until well mushed.... about 2-3 hours on low.  Have as a pasta sauce, over rice or just as a side dish.  I really love it.

[ollyoxenfree]

Baba ganoush? It's a yummy dip made with roasted eggplant and garlic.

It's the only way I eat eggplant. I don't have a recipe because I never let eggplant into my house. I'm sure you could find a recipe fairly easily. 

[Kate&Joey]

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-eggplant-spread-recipe/index.html

Roasted eggplant and red pepper dip.  I love it with pita chips!

[MrsGregory]

No one suggests eggplant rolitini?  Wash the eggplant super-well, cut off the stem end and run it long-ways across a mandolin until you have a slice of eggplant vaguely resembling a lasagne noodle.  Sweat the "noodles" or soak in milk, rinse, fill with tomato sauce and cheese and other veggies or sausage or anything you might stick in a lasagne, roll up, secure with wet toothpicks, arrange them in a greased pan, cover with tomato gravy and stinky cheese, pop them in the oven and then 45 minutes or so later (after they've rested for 10 minutes), embarass yourself by eating 5. 

 

[colemom]

Lidia (on PBS) makes a tasty eggplant tomato sauce that I love. On her show she served it with pasta, I think rotini so big hearty pasta, but also put the leftover in a baking dish and cracked an egg or two on top, then baked it at 350 just until the egg was done with a runny yolk. She ate it with toasted crusty italian bread to scoop up the sauce and egg. It's sooo good.

http://www.lidiasitaly.com/recipes/detail/663

[HappyHappyMommy]

I don't think I have ever been this excited to eat eggplant! These recipes sound delicious.

Ok, I've got another: what do you do with SWISS CHARD? I like to put it in this beet risotto (if I don't have beet greens), but then I'm out of ideas. Suggestions?

[Emaye]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

I don't think I have ever been this excited to eat eggplant! These recipes sound delicious.

Ok, I've got another: what do you do with SWISS CHARD? I like to put it in this beet risotto (if I don't have beet greens), but then I'm out of ideas. Suggestions?

I am super excited too!  I want to try all the other variations mentioned here.  

I really love Swiss Chard sauteed with red onions, olive oil and garlic.  Salt to taste.  Really simple but perfect side dish.  As a main, I like to put it in beef, potato stew.  But I really just prefer it sauteed.  Oh and a little bit of vinegar gives it a nice flavor.  

[MrsGregory]

I use usually put the leaves in salad and then eat them stems like celery in some tuna or chicken salad.  CRUNCH!  Yum.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Oh, these recipes for swiss chard sound yummy. Anyone else stumped by an ingredient?
 

[HappyHappyMommy]

My DP mentioned this morning being bored with the chicken dishes we've been making. So, what do you do with CHICKEN?
 

[tonttu]

Eggplant lasagna

Really easy , all you do is wash and then cut the ep lenghtwise in thin slices , about 2-3 mm

Then prepare all ingredients as for lasagna , except instead of layering it with noodle plates you use the ep slices , cover with your favourite cheese and stick in the oven until nice and brown

[meemee]

keep some cooked chicken. however you cook it. sometimes i like boiling it with spices and veggies so that i have the stock.

shredd the cooked chicken.

stir fry veggies, add cooked pasta or rice or noodles to them. throw in the chicken. turn off the stove, take a dollop of kimchee and stir it all in. this is the one we use. http://www.healthguideinfo.com/dieting-tips/p36814/ thanks to our ethnic grocery stores. i use this just about for anything. it isnt as hot as it looks.

crispy fry lots of onions, add some bell peppers, squash or any veggies (or left overs of your choice), add the chicken, spice it the way you'd like and serve it as a sandwich, or burrito or on pasta or rice or noodles. the key is the amount of onions and fried till they are dark.

i am trying to think of unusual chicken dishes.

shakenbake chicken (havent made this in years though) and serve steak type sides with it. i've also made a mushroom sauce and used it instead of shake and bake chicken.

pasta with fried onions and zuchini (if you can fry them in a lot of oil, they really make this dish), then the shredded chicken and mrs dash.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Originally Posted by tonttu 

Eggplant lasagna

Easy and yummy sounds good to me!

Originally Posted by meemee 
i am trying to think of unusual chicken dishes.

Thanks for all of the chicken ideas.

Anyone else have an ingredient you are stuck on?

[tonttu]

Rice and pasta , those go with EVERYTHING !

Oh , and canned tomatoes and grilled peppers as well , they are unbeatable , when you need to make a quick meal
 

[newmamalizzy]

Radishes!  Our CSA has been waaaay to bountiful in the radish department. 

[mumkimum]

RAISHES -- roast them, scrub, cut off greens. Half any large ones, toss with oil, salt, and pepper. Then bake at 400 for 20 minutes or so, turning at least once. They're like you've never had radishes before.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

Anyone else have an ingredient you are stuck on?

This is the good part of getting a CSA for a couple of years. bountifuls become a part of your life. and so you dont get stuck on anything. my key is to roast, steam, soup, in a veggie burger. 

radish mashed potatoes

http://kidscooking.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/radishmashedpot.htm

mashed 'radish'

http://variouscooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2012/06/mashed-radish.html

http://food52.com/blog/3104_7_ways_to_use_spring_radishes

i also add radishes to my sandwich. 

radish soup http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1848,150164-250201,00.html

oh by the way i eat the greens too (usually cook in beans). i use a lot of daikon (giant asian radishes) and i use all the greens. i rarely throw out any greens from any root. not even carrot, though i dont use all of it.