| Baba Ganouj |
| Let me preface this recipe with a confession: ... Because of my busy life, and because I like to spend far more time enjoying a meal & company rather then making it, I have little "quirks" that have been adopted over the years. I will not take for granted that you too have no desire to be in a kitchen longer then time necessary -- as I feel free to share my quirks with you. I have always felt out of sorts with "American Cuisine." Not only is it killing us...but, my taste buds have waken up to culture over the years, and I will rarely share with you something that you have eaten much of. And, as far as health ... your body will be dancing inside as you give it what it so badly cries for. Remember, if your tongue NEVER had something on it before ... it will NOT like it. Therefore, you must allow your body to taste and then taste again. And tell yourself, "This is GOOD" ... because your bud will not know what "good" is -- when it is "new." My best friend when making Mediterranean Food aside from ingredients such as: Olive oil, Greek Olives, Pine nuts, Tahini, Almonds, Garlic, Cilantro, and Lemon juice is... a MASON JAR. Why? Because I am too damn lazy to fool around with cleaning out my blender. The bottom blade of a standard blender, screws on the top of a mason jar PERFECTLY. When you are done making your little concoctions you simply pop it in the refrigerator for the next nibble visit to the Jar. (which for me, is usually an hour or so later as I can hardly keep from my blended up foods on account of my tummy). Baba Ganouj or Baba Ganoug or Baba Ganouge...depending on where you are at in the world. (kids love making this too) 1. Roast an Eggplant (whole) in the oven on 350 until soft. (30-45 minutes) at the last moments...hit your broiler on and let the skin get zapped briefly so that you can remove it. (I, personally, do not remove the skin and avoid this step altogether) 2. Cut that baby up and put it in the blender (or MASON JAR) and put in 1/8 cup Olive Oil/ saltNpepper/ 2tbl.Tahini/ 2 cloves Garlic/ One Lemon (squeezed) or a good healthy squirt from that little yellow fake plastic thing found in the produce section.. I use a 1/2 cup of Tahini, but that is NOT usual. I just LOVE Tahini. 3. Blend. And you are done! Serve warm now, or eat cold later. Goes Great with a side of "Tabouli." Or called "tabbouleh" in the mideast. Goes good with a side of "Couscous" also or both. Don't forget your pita and plenty of garden fresh friends. Keep the Olive oil handy and add more if you need it to be smoother. Do not use water. Seth says, DO NOT use a blender for the eggplant! He mush's it in a bowl with a fork or potato masher. And seeing as he is a "domestic god" ... I listen to his advice lots! Just blend up the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and Tahini. Dump it in the eggplant as it is being mashed up. Put it in a beautiful bowl with Pita Bread/or Flat Wheat Bread cut into triangles all around the bowl (like Pizza) and tell the kids, "This is what Jesus ate." It works around here. I think I can get a kid to eat just about anything. Garnish with Parsley and get 'em to start nibbling on parsley. Let them dip and eat with their fingers and hands. They will get a blast of health and a kick in their immune system and grow up loving eggplant. The first time it touches their tongue, they may not "like" it ... but that is only cuz their little buds never met it before. I sprinkle cheese or sour cream and olives on it to get kids liking good food. Then later just a dopple of homemade salsa will do. When Seth was younger, I would chop parsley up so small he would not even notice it in his salad. Then he slowly acquired a taste for it. Now, cilantro (parsleys' brother), is easy to include in his diet. I love introducing children to foods like this, and we have a carpet picnic at least once a day with fresh fruits, raw foods, and "dippy foods." I have a huge circular tray that I put little bowls of pesto, salsa, almonds, cut up veggies, olives, and all kinds of stuff they normally don't like. And salad dressing that I know they DO like. And say, "ummmmm" when little kids are present. If I do that with every bite I take. It rubs off easily. I got a 4 year old to LOVE fondue time with "Aunt Mary" -- and it has kirsch liquor, 5 stinky European cheeses, and white wine in it. Just by making carpet picnics a blast! God I miss little kids sometimes! Have fun today with your youngin's. I got more easy healthy nibble food ideas if you want em...lemme know. What is: Tahini? ... Just sesame seeds blended up into a "peanut" butter like paste. Use Olive Oil to get some creamy action going. You can buy it already made and this form of cheating is Just FINE...cuz...seeds is seeds. Just make sure you don't buy the kind that has a bunch of additional things. Ingredients should be: Sesame Seeds only. What is: PESTO? ... (look on main page) LOTS of additions can go into Pesto. Like: Basil, herbs, Jalepeno. etc's But the basic recipe is: Cilantro, Olive Oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and Pine Nuts. If you can't find Pine Nuts (health food store item) then, AlmondsNCashews can substitute. that took a long time to get outta me. geez..you better try it. don't make me come over there! love and light i remain Mary |
 |
|