Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Veggie Overload!!!




  • Dinner tonight...lots and lots of veggies!  Used up a good portion of the past few days tomatoes for the sauce!  It takes lots of tomatoes to make a little sauce!  

  • 1 large pattypan squash, sliced thin and steamed until tender
  • 3 eggplants, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 4 cups bread crumbs
  • 6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided ( made my own with whole, peeled tomatoes...see below!)
  • 1 (8 ounce) ball fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • fresh grated Parmesan cheese
  • fresh basil, chopped
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  2. Dip eggplant slices in egg, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.  Bake in preheated oven for 5-10 minutes.
  3. In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of steamed squash slices in the sauce.  Top with Italian sausage and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.  Then layer on eggplant slices, more sauce and a sprinkle of basil. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and more Parmesan cheeses. 
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
  5. Serve over hot fresh pasta...

All I do to make yummy, fresh tasting pasta sauce is peel garden fresh tomatoes, squeeze the extra water and seeds out and heat them until mushy.  Add some fresh herbs (whatever I have on hand...tonight was thyme, rosemary, basil, and oregano with a touch of parsley.  I ALWAYS add chopped onion and spicy garlic.  Then simmer on the stove until thickened.  A sprinkle of kosher salt, a crank or two of the pepper mill and it's done!  

***TIP***  ***TIP***  To quick peel tomatoes with no mess: Boil a large pot of water.  When boiling, drop the tomatoes in and blanch for 45-90 seconds.  IMMEDIATELY remove from the boiling water and plunge into a bowl of ice water.  The skins then slip right off.  Use this tip to peel peaches, too!!!

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