Grilled Eggplant

Yikers, I know it' been quite a while, and I was kind of running around like crazy the last 2 weeks or so trying to get ready for our Cape Cod trip! I am back now, with some fresh groceries, so I should be back on a regular basis!
Tonight we decided to do some grilled chicken with grilled eggplant, which I topped with marinara. This isn't really a recipe as much as a method. Hope everyone enjoys!

Grilled Eggplant Marinara

Leftovers and things

Sorry I haven't been updating lately! We are prepping to leave for our summer vacation on Saturday so I've mostly been making things to get rid if leftovers and they're mostly not recipes

Like this is leftover penne ala vodka and a cut up zucchini that I sautéed until slightly browned. I don't want a bunch if stuff in the fridge while we are gone!

I am going to try and make something dessert ish tomorrow!

Maple-Cranberry String Beans

I usually make this in the fall and especially around Thanksgiving. I got some string beans from someone's garden and decided to make it!

Roasted Eggplant Hummus

I buy hummus often because it makes for a great dip and sandwich spread and I don't always feel like lugging the food processor out, making it, cleaning it and then putting it away. When I just wrote that, I realize how lazy that makes me sound.... but really, it's stowed away in an annoying spot that I have to move things around to get to it because I have no counter space. This is my relationship with most of my kitchen. So anyway, in yet another box of fresh vegetables given to us(I love summer-and friends with gardens!) was a lone eggplant. Previously, I had seen eggplant hummus at the store. Then, the light bulb went off in my head: "I can make that!"

Beef & Broccoli

A fairly simple Chinese favorite, I decided to try my hand at it without deep frying and MSG and all that nonsense. It's probably not like it is at the restaurants(honestly, I've never ordered it), but it's tasty and it's simple. And mild, not like yesterday's recipe!

Extra Spicy Zucchini and Pasta Casserole

I know I said I couldn't eat anymore Zucchini until next year, but I got another box full today so I had to come up with something! I will warn you this is incredibly spicy and not for the faint of heart... Zucchini Casserole: A Cautionary Tale! I'd also like to give a shout out to a friend named Steve Fuscowned (not his real name) who recently expressed his love of Zucchini to me. Hope you like spicy food, too. This one's for you!

Black Bean Brownies

I have to admit this is not a totally original recipe, as I've seen a number of them circulating for some time now- and this concept has been on so many daytime talk shows in the last few years. I finally decided to try it because it seemed like something that might either be delicious or really "health food". Considering I am not a big fan of black beans, I admit I was skeptical. BUT! They came out really fudgy, and very chocolaty (and they actually tasted like brownies)! 

Pan-Roasted Spicy Corn Salad

We are quite busy this weekend! I threw this together really quick, and figured I would share it!

No food!

I don't have anything to post today(or yesterday) because I tried my hand at baked beans yesterday when my cousin visited me. Not only were they under cooked (after soaking them for 14 hours might I add), they just didn't taste good. I added Beef broth thinking it would flavor them nicely,  but it really just made it soupy and diluted the molasses/ maple flavors. 

Oh well, no one is perfect...but one day I will get these beans right!

Anyway, here's a really cute picture of my dog and my man.

And here's my dog thinking he is a tiny little thing when really, he is about 80 lbs or so.

And yes he is on top of ME after lovingly conning his daddy upstairs!

Have a good Thursday!

©The Village Farmhouse | Amy Heck 2012. Please do not steal my images.