Cheesey Eggplant Pie!

Otherwise know as eggplant parmesan.  This version is pasta-less, but feel free to add your own.  My husband and I prefer garlic bread as the carb in this one :)  It's a fast dish to prep so you can get back to the party, of 1, 2 or more!

Indigents: 

1 large eggplants, cut crosswise into rounds

2c pasta sauce

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

3tbs basil

1/4tsp black pepper

1/4tsp red pepper

2 eggs, beaten in a large bowl

1 1/2c breadcrumbs, fine, and seasoned to taste

1c flaked cheese (harder is better)

Serves: 4-6 people

Time: 20 min. pre

          40 min bake

             1 hour total

This recipe requires a slightly longer cook time due to the "skipped" step of dehydrating the eggplant with salt.  If you choose to do this step: Toss all the eggplant rounds with 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl... then rinse and let drain for 30 minutes. This step does leave a fair amount of salt in the dish, so health conscious cook beware!  

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375°F.

2) Set up your dinner prep area as the eggplant does oxidize.  Make sure you are ready with your washed eggplant and cutting board, your beaten egg, your seasoned bread crumb mixture, and your baking dish!

3)Add 2 tbs of pasta sauce to the dish you will be baking in.  Swril teh dish or spread teh sauce with a spoon to coat the bottom of the dish.

4) Slice the eggplant in to 1/4 to 1/3 inch rounds.  This is a cross section cut.

5) Coat both sides of the round with the egg mixture.  (If you choose not to dehydrate the eggplant, not much egg will stick.  If you did dehydrate the eggplant, you will probably need a third egg.)

6) Place your egg coated round in the bread crumb mixture.  Flip the round to cover both sides. PRO TIP: Add some cheese to the bread crumb mixture as well ;)  

7) Transfer eggplant to your backing dish.  If you want your egg plant extra crispy you will need to precook the eggplant in a pan after you coat it in bread crumbs.  Otherwise, you can arrange it to go straight in the oven.

8) Work with one piece at a time until you have arranged the first layer of eggplant. 

9) Add 1c of sauce, a layer of cheese, and 1/2 your basil, minced garlic and pepper seasonings.

10) Create another layer of eggplant rounds.  Fill in as necessary to make for a "full pie."

11) Add  the rest of the sauce, cheese, seasonings and garlic.

12) Bake covered for 35 min. The sauce should be bubbling and the cheese melted and golden!

13) Uncover for the last 5 to 10 minutes to give it a crisper top.  Serve hot!

Cost:

eggplants              $1.50

pasta sauce           $1.50

seasonings            $0.30

eggs                      $0.27

bread crumbs        $1.00

Cheese                  $5.00               

Total                     $9.57

Per serving           $1.59

Comfort Food For the weekdays: Itlain Sausage in Angle Hair Pasta

Pasta is one of those dishes that can be quick and pretty good, or slow and Mama Mia good.   I offer a weeknight compromise: Quick pasta, slow rest-of-the-ingredients, and dinner is served on time!

Ingredients:

1lb Italian sausage
1 red onion
4tbs olive oil
1 jar red sauce
2tbs basil
1tbs oregano
1tsp black pepper
1/2 package angle hair pasta

Serves: 4+

Time: 35min

Directions:

1) Start boiling the water.  You will need about 4 cups.  Feel free to add a little salt and olive oil as well, as discussed in prior posts :)

2)Add the olive oil to the pan and turn onto medium heat.  Give extra time to warm up if using an electric oven.

3) Add all the sausage, pre-chopped or separated in the pan.  I prefer to separate in the pan, personally.  Also add your sliced onions at this time.

4) If you choose to use all the spices listed, add them now, so they have time to soften and mellow.  If you are using less spices than listed above, you may want to add them later on so they will taste more potent. Yes, spices are always optional.  Well... usually.

5) While you are cooking the meat thoroughly, and keeping a close eye on it, add the pasta to the boiling water.

6) Add most of the the jar of red sauce to the pan.*

*The reason for "most of the jar" is you may want to save a little out for making pizza!  Its super easy to do with pasta left overs.  Just save a little of the sliced onion, and a little of the meat too-- all in separate baggies of course.  We will come back to this at a later post ;)

7) Angle hair pasta cooks quickly, making it both elegant and time efficient.  After about 5 to 7 minutes, you should be prepared to drain the pasta and add it directly to the pan of yummy stuff.

8) Mix everything well and serve hot!

Cost:

Italian sausage    $3.56
red onion            $0.50
olive oil              $0.20
red sauce            $2.00
spices                 $0.35
pasta                   $0.50      
Total                  $7.11
Per serving         $1.77

Bacon (and Sausage) Carbonara!!

Because who doesn't love food topped with a bacon heart <3

Thick cut bacon is the best!

Total time: 45 min
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 package of pasta

1/2 lb of a hard cheese (recommend Jalsberg, as it's very affordable)

5 eggs
1 package of bacon

6 sausages (breakfast sausage works great!)

seasonings to taste: pepper, basil, rosemary, and thyme all work great

Directions:

This dish requires you move fluidly, partially regarding the egg mixture!  For that reason the steps aren't numbered.  Please read though the full recipe before you jump into the kitchen-- It will be worth it I promise!

Cook desired quantity of bacon.  A good rule of thumb is 4 slices.  (That way you have enough for the bacon heart and one to snack on while cooking the rest of the meal.)

While cooking the bacon, boil a pot of water with a dash of salt to get ready to cook the pasta.  Slice the cheese up, the thinner the better.  Combine the cheese with the 5 eggs and seasoning desired. Set aside for the very end.  Timing is crucial at the last step!

Well mixed cheese and egg mixture.
This will be cooked by heat of the pasta and bacon grease at the very end!

Cook the sausage in the bacon grease.  You can substitute in olive oil here, but considering the meal, I usual go with the classic bacon grease. 

Cook the pasta desired.  Drain the cooked pasta well before adding directly to the cooked sausage in bacon grease.  This works best in a large bowl.

Work quickly to mix the pasta and bacon grease and then IMMEDIATELY add the cheese and egg mixture.  Stirr quickly to cook the eggs.  The egg will cook directly onto the pasta, giving it an added texture with the cooked egg on it.  You will know when the eggs are cooked.  For the faint of heart- you can also always mic the mixture at the end, but this should not be necessary.

 Prep time: 50 min.  (Bacon just takes time.)
 Serves: 6 people.

 Cost:

 pasta          $2.00

 cheese       $1.50

 eggs           $1.20

 sausages   $2.99

 seasoning $0.20

 bacon        $3.00         

 total          $10.90

 So per meal: About $1.80

 I love this meal, so have I obviously ordered it in restaurants-- Never for less than $12 a plate, and it is SOOOO much better fresh.  Home cooked is the way to go on this one!