Friday I'm in Love

Today was a busy, busy day for a couple of cool cats chillin' over on the west side of town.  We did lots and lots of cooking, made a trip or two over to 'The Wall,' and had some great conversation with a mysterious chainsaw juggler.  Go figure.  What is that saying??? Words speak volumes....so true.  I failed to mention 'The Wall' last evening.  There was a reason for my omission of 'The Wall.'  Nothing really was happening over there..no one was around.  They were all out and about this evening...total hoot...

I ventured over there after cooking and taking my photos to unwind and chit-chat.  I already had inspiration, so finding said inspiration was not necessary.  The whole gang, minus Russ and Adam were hanging out.  At times I think it would be superb to be unemployed and sit along a wall all day...ahhh, to dream.  However, my dear friends MasterCard and Visa would be quite displeased if I were unemployed.  tisk-tisk. 

"Mama..I love the wall!!  It rocks!"

The 'Loud Talker' made an appearance..again..much to everyone's chagrin.  She did thank me for being a responsible pet owner by picking up after my dog.  I explained it was my duty to clean up after my dog...she totally did NOT get my pun.  What a waste of a pun.  As my grandmother always said, it's a sin to waste...I say it's a sin to waste a good pun.  Puns are fun!!  Anyone get that???  Are those crickets I hear???  Hello??  This thing on???  Um, yeah.. alright...I cooked...how's that for an ice-breaker..shall we move along??

"Alright Mama...enough now.  Enough with puns..they are fun and such, but this has gotten out of hand...and I'm hungry!  Not to mention, discussing my 'business' is embarrassing..."  OK...OK..I promise I'll stop.  I just could NOT help myself.....

We took an enormous leap today, culinarily speaking, that is...and purchased a *gasp* vegetable of the purple variety.  Can I get a little finger clap???....maybe a teeny-tiny one???  Come on, folks!  You can do it!  Here is the mysterious vegetable...

Allow me to introduce my new eggplant buddy, Grimace (anyone remember Grimace???)...aka... Dead Eggplant Walking. 
 Shhhh..don't tell him that...if he knew his fate he would have never, ever in a million years, posed for the above photo.

We were only briefly buddies...for a couple of minutes or so... We didn't even have time for a beer and a quick chat....He merely hung around until I had to slice him into pieces.  It wasn't even awkward...  Everyone relax...it was very non-violent...this is a family-friendly blog..I keep things at least PG around these parts.  He felt no pain and took one for the eggplant team.  He will be remembered.  He was delicious..I kid you not.  I don't kid.  I'm a matter-of-fact kinda gal.

Here are the components necessary in creating said eggplant..

Panko bread crumbs, flour, mozzarella and provolone cheese, italian herbs, sauce, and a brown egg.

 Brown eggs are beautiful...just like brown hair.

The sauce I had made previously for another dish.  Homemade sauce is significantly better than any purchased sauce from a jar...and much easier..trust me.   I cannot recall the dish for which this sauce was made.  I currently suffer from MMS...mushy memory syndrome.  I know there's a cure and I know the cause...I'm just waiting for the solution/cure to return...please be patient...I am!

Here are the coating 'stations' for our eggplant...

Egg, flour and seasoned panko bread crumbs.

Coating them isn't really that much fun.  It's kinda, sorta messy..but worth every minute in the long run.  I'm just a complainer...ignore me..

Once the eggplant has been coated, you fry in olive oil...

This is one of my action shots...  I felt I should throw in a few more of these.  Although cooking and photo taking simultaneously are not my strong suit.  WIP, my friends...WIP...

I was serving angel-hair pasta along with my eggplant..here are my pasta components..

Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic, sundried tomatoes, olive oil and prosciutto.  I served no E.V. in my pasta.  I couldn't get her out of the picture.  She really, really, really wanted that prosciutto and wouldn't budge.  Total mooch...

She looks pretty sweet back there in the corner, no??  Takes after her mama...

After I fried up my eggplant, I assembled the ingredients into a stack.  A deconstructed eggplant parmesan of sorts.  I have found, from experience, cooking them in this manner is the best way.  The eggplant doesn't get soggy, and they look so darn cute.  Like PTI's..

Layered as follows: eggplant, provolone, sauce, mozzarella...repeat and repeat.  I topped with more sauce and cheese.  I love cheese...you all know that by now and can never have enough.  Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes...heaven on a plate...

Dinner is served..

It was quite tasty...and almost vegetarian..if you forget there is prosciutto in the pasta.

My favorite part was the eggplant.  The layers are so beautiful and colorful....

Just like Heaven....so true, and a great song by The Cure.

I believe that wraps everything up for this evening.  My, how the time just flew by this evening.  I quite enjoyed the You Tube, as usual.  Tonight is The Cure!  I haven't listened to them in eons...The Caterpillar, Love Cats and Close to me..oh, and Boys don't Cry..the memories...Great stuff...truly....

Have a terrific evening, everyone.  We'll be here tomorrow.  I hope you will as well.  I have lots of tricks up my sleeve...I'm a sneaky kinda gal!  It's a holiday weekend..that's how E.V. and I roll...  Make some eggplant.  It's delicious...and it's purple..how could you go wrong?!?!?!  Purple...is the next best thing to pink! :-)  But now that I think, I don't believe they make any pink vegetables...and if any vegetable actually ends up being pink, it should probably be avoided....I profusely apologize for even broaching the subject.  I should have left well enough alone...sorry..my bad...

SWAK