** Secret Italian Eggplant Recipe - get it before the mafia deletes it.

[mark]

(Deb, I'd be happy to repost.  I took it from the lovely Mary's thread, posted there with her kind permission and now reposted here with some editing.  Ah, dial-up. Hey it's better than *no* internet.  I can see about putting the video in words but give me just a little more time to translate. Thanks.)

*** FRANCA'S (formerly) SECRET ITALIAN EGGPLANT RECIPE ***

Ok.  Youtube is done processing the videos (there are 2, I had to take a break while she finished the layers).  Let me preface it with this information:

1. English is my mom's third language so bear with her when she's bombarded with my questioning 
2. Every Italian has her own "secret spice" jar.  Hers contains - salt, with fresh garlic cloves, and home grown rosemary - all put in a blender for about 60 seconds until finely minced.  Don't skip this and do it exactly as described.  It's roughly 2 cups of table salt, with roughly 5 garlic cloves and roughly 1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary thrown in - it's an important ingredient mix. You're not going to use the whole thing in your dish.  You're going to dash it in where described and save the rest for your next episode. She would get the mafia on me just for giving that part out.
3. That scar (poor mom!) on her arm is from reaching in the oven earlier in the day and getting burned.  This dish is prepared in the microwave but she doesn't tell people that it's prepared this way. Microwaves are viewed as a cop-out to old school Italians.
4. That container of Kraft parmesan cheese...does not actually contain Kraft parmesan cheese.  That top screws off and she grates parmesan cheese that she personally gets from Parma Italy, which is a small town near where she was born.  They are very stern about where their parmesan cheese comes from.  Either it's from Parma or they don't want it.  Many cheeses claim to be "parmesan style" cheese, but only one comes from Parma.  I'm sure the store bought will do just fine since a trip to Parma would probably blow your ingredient budget, as it would mine.
5. The olive oil is EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) made by Bertolli.  I wouldn't skimp on this either.
6. And although those eggplants weren't from the earthbox because she has just recently become a believer, I would advise growing yours in the earthbox - more sense of satisfaction that way  You know, I've found that the best way to sell an earthbox is to not sell it at all.  Just get a tomato plant going, then the next time your family/friends are over, invite them into the backyard and show them the freakshow coming out of the earthbox.  Then in a very sincere voice, ask them how *their* tomatoes are doing. LOL I know...that's mean....I'm just having fun.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  Remember I was telling you that from start to finish (including cook time) you are done with this dish in about 20 minutes.  She makes an eggplant parmesan (3 hours) but it's not quite as preferred as this one.  I ate that whole dish.

Eggplant recipe Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-OkjACdFXw

Eggplant recipe Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYXPXX3KNzo

Let me know if you have problems viewing the videos.

For full commentary on these videos, see this post:
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=1752.15topic=1752.msg13421#msg13421


--Mark

[Kamisha100]

Mark
I made this yesterday for lunch.  Very tasty!  I used an eggplant ( my eggplant is the Ichiban type and would not have been enough alone) and squash from my garden since that was what ready, and it was very delicious.  Tell your Mom, Thanks for bringing us a great easy recipe.

[Deb]

I'm still jealous.  I still can't get youtube.

I live in the woods and can't get high speed.

My dial up runs somewhere between 12.5kgb and 19.8 kgb (depending on whatever it depends on) and that is just too slow for youtube.

I keep hoping someone will write down the recipe so I can try it even if I don't get to see Mom's instructions.

thanks-
Deb

[mark]

Mark
I made this yesterday for lunch.  Very tasty!  I used an eggplant ( my eggplant is the Ichiban type and would not have been enough alone) and squash from my garden since that was what ready, and it was very delicious.  Tell your Mom, Thanks for bringing us a great easy recipe.

Thanks Kamisha!  I'll forward your kind response to her.  It really brings a smile to her face.  I had that eggplant dish for dinner tonight.  I suppose I'll never get sick of it.

--Mark

[mark]

I'm still jealous.  I still can't get youtube.

I live in the woods and can't get high speed.

My dial up runs somewhere between 12.5kgb and 19.8 kgb (depending on whatever it depends on) and that is just too slow for youtube.

I keep hoping someone will write down the recipe so I can try it even if I don't get to see Mom's instructions.

thanks-
Deb

Hi Deb!  I'm sorry.  I know I told you I'd set some time aside to write it all out.  Hang in there...I'll have some down time soon. 

--Mark

[nichelle]

I made this last weekend. I had one more earthbox with nothing in it. Since I am determined to eat only the vegetables from my garden this year, I wanted to try something new. I'd never had eggplant before and this was my first taste of it. It was a great simple reciple that I made in just minutes. Your mother is absolutely wonderful. It would seem a joy just to sit and listen to her share stories. I love cooking with my mother but we don't live close so its a rare occasion. Watching this brought back memories. Anyway, I just wanted to pass along that I loved the dish. And I now have 2 lovely eggplant plants in my earthbox and a container with salt, garlic and rosemary on the counter.

Thanks to you and your mother!

[mark]

I made this last weekend. I had one more earthbox with nothing in it. Since I am determined to eat only the vegetables from my garden this year, I wanted to try something new. I'd never had eggplant before and this was my first taste of it. It was a great simple reciple that I made in just minutes. Your mother is absolutely wonderful. It would seem a joy just to sit and listen to her share stories. I love cooking with my mother but we don't live close so its a rare occasion. Watching this brought back memories. Anyway, I just wanted to pass along that I loved the dish. And I now have 2 lovely eggplant plants in my earthbox and a container with salt, garlic and rosemary on the counter.

Thanks to you and your mother!

hahahaha.  Great!  That's awesome that you put that box together so quickly.  I've been stalling in buying my mom a couple of earthboxes (her birthday is drawing near) but I'll make it happen soon.

Share her stories? She won't! hahaha But this forum is what helped break the dam.  I sent that youtube link to just *one* of her Italian friends.  Well, if you are not familiar with the ethnic "clicks" in certain towns, they all seem to know each other and in huge groups.  The Italian woman in Augusta forwarded that one email to all the other Italian women and before my mom knew it she was getting phone calls from her friends who she said were "jealous." hahaha So I think she wants to do more now. She did promise to do at least one additional recipe.  But I'll let her introduce that recipe and why she chose it.  It's very interesting.

Take care and Happy Earthboxing.

[Deb]

My hubby doesn't like vegetables.  He is so set on not liking them he will rarely even try things he 'knows' he doesn't like.  He was pretty good when the kids were home so he didn't turn them off of veggies, but now he's getting stubborn in his old age.  ;>

I made this recipe and told him that I wanted him to at least try it since it wasn't eggplant dipped in batter and then soaking up grease until it burned like the eggplant we both grew up with.  Hold your breath now...!...he went back for seconds!

I was so nice I gave part of the leftovers to my Pops and sis.  Pops said he only liked eggplant the way I hated when growing up.  Sis is vegetarian, and asked for the recipe - before she even tasted it.  Pops ate what was on his plate, I asked if he liked it.  His response was my sis always made him good food.  We decided not to tell him he'd just eaten eggplant - at 86, he's entitled to his opinions.  ;>

I had forgotten that Mark called it Franca's (formerly) secret Italian Eggplant recipe, and told sis I just called it Mark's Mom's Eggplant.  She thought it was funny since my son is named Marc.

I used 3 Ichiban eggplants and filled a 9" pieplate.  I can imagine how different it would be in a deeper cassarole dish with more layers, but it was just about the right size for 2 of us and leftovers for lunch.

Thanks to Mark and MaryB who finally wrote out the recipe for me.
Deb

[mark]

My hubby doesn't like vegetables.  He is so set on not liking them he will rarely even try things he 'knows' he doesn't like.  He was pretty good when the kids were home so he didn't turn them off of veggies, but now he's getting stubborn in his old age.  ;>

I made this recipe and told him that I wanted him to at least try it since it wasn't eggplant dipped in batter and then soaking up grease until it burned like the eggplant we both grew up with.  Hold your breath now...!...he went back for seconds!

I was so nice I gave part of the leftovers to my Pops and sis.  Pops said he only liked eggplant the way I hated when growing up.  Sis is vegetarian, and asked for the recipe - before she even tasted it.  Pops ate what was on his plate, I asked if he liked it.  His response was my sis always made him good food.  We decided not to tell him he'd just eaten eggplant - at 86, he's entitled to his opinions.  ;>

I had forgotten that Mark called it Franca's (formerly) secret Italian Eggplant recipe, and told sis I just called it Mark's Mom's Eggplant.  She thought it was funny since my son is named Marc.

I used 3 Ichiban eggplants and filled a 9" pieplate.  I can imagine how different it would be in a deeper cassarole dish with more layers, but it was just about the right size for 2 of us and leftovers for lunch.

Thanks to Mark and MaryB who finally wrote out the recipe for me.
Deb

Hi Deb!

He even went back for seconds?  Pops liked it, huh?  That's too funny.  Hope your sis likes it.  And thank you so much for sharing your experience.  When someone as kind as you puts your experience out there, I always print it out and take it to her on Sunday after church.  You have no idea how much she appreciates your kind feedback.  She puts her reading glasses on, sits down, and reads your responses out loud.  She'd have you over if you were in Augusta. 

I was at her house today (and I just realized I forgot my cell phone over there) but we didn't eat her great cooking as we usually do.  It was her birthday so I took *her* out to eat at Applebee's hahaha...it's not mom's cooking but...it'll do.  As her birthday gifts, I got her a cell phone and 2 Earthboxes. 

She's been asking if she could do a second recipe (a vege dish).  I'll help her get it out there soon. 

Thanks again and have a great labor day weekend.
Mark

[hobbes0225]

I'm still jealous.  I still can't get youtube.

I live in the woods and can't get high speed.

My dial up runs somewhere between 12.5kgb and 19.8 kgb (depending on whatever it depends on) and that is just too slow for youtube.

I keep hoping someone will write down the recipe so I can try it even if I don't get to see Mom's instructions.

thanks-
Deb

go to keepvid.com and you can download the video to your machine and keep playing it over.  Chris

[Deb]

Thanks Chris, I'll give that a try.

Mark, you are the best son!  I wish my Marc lived closer and could visit (and take me to lunch).  So what's Mom gonna plant in her boxes?  You better be careful, you'll be ordering more for Christmas.  ;>

Sis did love the recipe - she shared some with Pops.  I was surprised because after sitting for 2 days it all turned purple instead of the nice white with purple rings like when I cooked it.  But it was still good and normally that won't be an issue.

I'm looking forward to the next recipe.   Don't tell anyone, but the secret spice goes great on grilled cheese and scrambled eggs.  ;> 

I think it might be worth a trip to Augusta just to meet you both.

Deb

[mark]

Thanks Chris, I'll give that a try.

Mark, you are the best son!  I wish my Marc lived closer and could visit (and take me to lunch).  So what's Mom gonna plant in her boxes?  You better be careful, you'll be ordering more for Christmas.  ;>

Sis did love the recipe - she shared some with Pops.  I was surprised because after sitting for 2 days it all turned purple instead of the nice white with purple rings like when I cooked it.  But it was still good and normally that won't be an issue.

I'm looking forward to the next recipe.   Don't tell anyone, but the secret spice goes great on grilled cheese and scrambled eggs.  ;> 

I think it might be worth a trip to Augusta just to meet you both.

Deb

Hi Deb!

Thanks for the compliment.  We talked about what she's going to plant in her 2 new earthboxes...since I'm doing the tomatoes and bell peppers (I may as well keep doing them) then she decided to do the vege's that she spends the most money on; egg plants and Italian green beans (flat beans).

Turned purple?  Did you peel it before cooking? 

You can use that spice for many things.  She puts it on just about everything.  Even goes good sprinkled on salads.

I'll let the next recipe be a surprise. 

Have a fantastic weekend!
--Mark

[mark]

Mark,

I hope you're still on this board.  I made your Mom's recipe the day it posted and it became a staple for us.  I love it, and with a nod of thanks to your mom, I planted several eggplants in my garden this year.  My computer crashed and I lost my "link" to Mom.  In a panic I went to youtube and typed in all the keywords I could think of and luckily found the video.  PHEW!  Even though I know the recipe by heart I still love to hear Mom explain it.

Thanks a million.
Karental

Hi Karen:

I'm going to post this here so that Mom can see it (I bought her a laptop recently)  That's very nice of you to write :-)  Yes, I'm still on this board (although not since last year).  Glad you found the recipe on youtube.  It's hard to believe she's gotten over a thousand views.  I'm glad you like it too.  She'll be very flattered to hear that you've made one of her recipes for your family.  Currently, she's very ill with a serious stomach virus.  I've been doing my best to take care of her (mowed her lawn today and took her some groceries).  Say a prayer for her to get better.

Although I bought her a laptop, she hasn't been feeling well enough to learn how to use it.  Hopefully she'll be better soon.  I bought her 2 earthboxes and we will be planting eggplants and beans in them in a few weeks.  I'm also going to begin my tomato earthbox and bell peppers again this year, so I'll be back soon with a new thread.  We'll see if I can do things flawlessly this year ;-)

Take care and God bless.
Mark

[karental]

Thanks Mark!  I made this tonight and served it with a nice garden salad.  I love this recipe!

[joy112854]

Mark:  I know a lot of Italians, some Sicilians, and they make excellent eggplant parmesan.  I tried it once myself and it ended up not crisp; but limp.  I was told that you cut the eggplant into slices and let it weep in the refrigerator with paper toweling first before breading it?  I'm growing 3 fairy tale eggplants this Spring any tips on preparing and cooking eggplant is appreciated.  I love sausage and peppers and fusilli (sp) and white cream sauce.  Don't know how to make white sauce either; had a Sicilian boyfriend who used to make it for me.   
joy