Fall Blogorama, EGGPLANT; Savory, Simple, Nasty, Sweet?, and Nearly Famous

Inspiration from across the internet

Grilled Eggplant Recipe Illustration

If you’re interested in finding out more about the above Grilled Eggplant illustration, click here. Eggplant??! EEEEISH! Yesterday I left a bowl of scooped out eggplant flesh on the kitchen table. I had left it there to get it out of the way whilst I prepared the rest of the ingredients for the fabulous eggplant-yogurt dip for book club last night. He sat down at the table for his morning coffee. IIISSSSHHHH, he said. What’s that? It looks like some wet work I sent the shop-vac after. It all began with a search of Afghani food for our book club potluck, knowing there were eggplant in the garden, and onions in my tiny pantry. What I discovered were posts and pictures of some pretty funky and creative dishes that I’ll be preparing in my teensy-tiny oven in my trailer kitchen. The Farmer’s Markets still have a good bit of the deep purple, cylindrical vegetable. They do transform dramatically once roasted and skinned however. Be brave. If you can possibly get over the snail-like texture of the flesh of the beast, you’ll find sweetness underneath.

Eggplant and Black Bean Rollups from Vegan Runner Eats

Eggplant Savory From Alina; Vegan Runner Eats Eggplant Rollups with Black Bean-Potato Stuffing Gluten-free and gloriously without much processed food involved.  I’ll maybe try sweet potato in lieu of Irish potato.  Don’t know yet. You’ll need: eggplant, homemade or storebought marinara sauce, potatoes, onion, garlic, yellow or orange bell peppers, black beans, oregano, thyme, sage, sweet paprika, nutritional yeast, salt n peppah.

From Barefoot Essence

Eggplant Simple: From Barefoot Jacq; of Barefoot Essence.  “un-fussy gluten-free plant-based food + inspiration to live with less stuff delivered to your inbox.”  Cool. Eggplant Hummus Pizza What you’ll need: eggplant, homemade hummus (or store bought), homemade or store bought marinara sauce.  Jacq’s got a recipe for a Portuguese pumpkin hummus I’d like to give a spin as I’ve got a tub of roasted acorn squash in the teensy-tiny-grateful fridge..  You can also sprinkle on a bit of nutritional yeast or vegan cheese. Click here for the link to her Portuguese pumpkin hummus

Portuguese Pumpkin Hummus for the Eggplant Hummus Pizza

Click Here for the link to make the homemade pepper paste if you’re so inclined.

BBQ Eggplant Spaghetti

Eggplant Nasty: Now some folks would think those two words are synonymous. From Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence of The Chubby Vegetarian: The Chubby Vegetarian BBQ Eggplant Spaghetti The recipe calls for 2 Italian eggplant, halved.  That only makes ½ cup of “pulled” barbecue.  If you’ve got more room in your oven, roast more than one.  Shoot!  Even in my scrawny, little (but so grateful I’ve got it) trailer oven I can get 4 split eggplant resting on parchment stuffed into the box. What you’ll need:  eggplant, canola oil, Memphis BBQ Dry Rub (recipe included), Chipotle BBQ Sauce (again recipe is in here, or buy your favorite), spaghetti noodles, dairy or vegan cheese.  Memphis BBQ Dry Rub: chipotle, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, garlic powder,  salt, cumin, black pepper, brown sugar, thyme, oregano, and ancho chili powder.

Eggplant Chocolate Cake with Nespresso

Eggplant Sweet!!? From Billy Law’s A Table for Two. Eggplant Chocolate Cake with Nespresso I actually found a dessert eggplant.  It looks good.  It looks like a deep and profound experience.  This is a chocolate, coffee, vanilla, base that piques my interest.  A flourless chocolate tart with a sweet short pastry crust that’s elegant I’m looking forward to making.  The recipe was inspired by a classic Melanzane al Cioccolate, that you can search out and try too.  It’s Italian. And scha-weet!!  And a bit heavy with all the deep frying of the eggplant.  Us southerners would probably prefer that.  Not me. Maybe the folks “down under” have different taste buds.  Kinda doubt it. When I conduct this experiment, I suspect I’ll use Italian espresso powder as that is more commonly available down heah in SW VA. What you’ll need: eggplant, dark chocolate, eggs, cocoa powder, Nespresso or espresso powder, almond meal, powdered sugar, baking powder, sliced almonds, flour, butter, salt. See? Simple.

Vegan Eggplant Parm Cupcakes

Eggplant Nearly Famous; From the vegan kitchen of dr caligari; Vegan MoFo2: Eggplant Parmigana cupcakes Craaayyyy-Zeeee appetizer or snack for cheffy friends. What you’ll need: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, non-dairy milk, oil, non-dairy cream, cashews, basil, eggplants, tomatoes, garlic, cute little cupcake cups. I’m LOVING the late October smells and getting all cozy on chilly at night.  We’ve replaced the light, white chenille coverlet with a big down comforter to snuggle under.  I’m happy harvest is right around the bend.

Fall Blogorama: Sweet Potato; Simple, Savory, Nasty, Sweet, and Almost Famous (not necessarily in that order)

Prompted by a friend that likes the photos and food ideas posted on the Beth and the Biscuit Facebook page, I’ve put together a few zoomy items that would feel good this fall. These recipes and meals come from phenom bloggers I admire for their food and/or food and photography.

If you cook like I do, these recipes are IDEAS that point to a tasty plate, they are NOT the tasty plate. It becomes a spiritual exercise. A Food Yoga. Look to your Farmer’s Markets for alternate colors and flavors.

Simple Market Plate: from Carrie on Vegan

What’s in it? Warming up this plate for the fall, I’ve adjusted the meal slightly to what appeals to me now at the Farmer’s Market. Baked sweet potato, sautéed spinach or fall greens, beans (I’d make chili or barbecue beans, personally), caramelized onions, roasted beets (or pickled – yum), and Carrie’s vegan take on Bob’s Big Boy Roquefort cheese spread.

Simple Plate

Savory: Sweet Potato Tacos from Sarah di Grazia.

What’s in it? Well, you’ll need: onion, small yellow squash, small zucchini, broccoli florets, bag meatless beef grounds** (or lentils if you’re foregoing the faux), black olives, black beans, olive oil, jalapeños, Greek yogurt, cilantro, hot sauce, sweet potatoes

NASTY: Sweet Potato “Po’ Boy” with Creamy Southern Coleslaw from Barb at That Was Vegan?

Seriously? Well…OK then. What’s in it? Barb’s recipe for beer-battered sweet potatoes. Yee-haa!!

Beer-Battered Sweet Potato

Almost Famous: Mushroom + Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts; Laura’s amazing recipe from The First Mess

This blog is worth a look just for the photographs alone. Total food porn.

What’s in it? Grapeseed or other neutral oil, shallots, leek, thyme, garlic, tomato paste, mixed mushrooms, (spelt flour (or GF flour/blend of choice–I’ve read that sorghum flour is great for thickening sauces), stout or other dark, heavy beer (Source out a darker GF beer or use red wine instead if you can’t consume gluten), balsamic vinegar, tamari soy sauce, pitted kalamata olives, parsley, small sweet potatoes

Mushroom + Stout Vegan Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crusts

SchaWeet!: Sweet Potato Casserole Blondies from Maggie Muggins; The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado. Vegan MoFo, Day 16, Sickly Sweet Sundays

This is a beautiful weekend treat recipe when you’ve got some sweet potatoes already baked and are desirous to WOW yourself.

Sweet Potato Blondie

What’s in it? Sweet potato puree, canola oil, brown sugar, white sugar, ground flax seed, non-dairy milk, vanilla, all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, marshmallows, candied pecans, caramel sauce.

Enjoy. Let me know what you think of these ideas in the comment section below. See ya!

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