Eggplant Parm

I bought the eggplant for $2 at the Calabasas farmer's market and it made a lot. Arin loved this! I served leftovers cold with pasta and it was wonderful. Great vegetarian dish.

Ingredients:

2 medium eggplants washed and sliced in 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (threw toasted leftover whole wheat bread in the magic bullet)
1 teaspoons dried oregano
6 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper
3 cups marinara sauce*
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
thin slices of mozzarella cheese (or grated mozzarella)

Directions:

1. Place eggplant slices in cylinder, sprinkle lightly with salt and allow to drain for 30 minutes. Then dry slices.

2. Heat oven to 325 degrees.

3. Mix breadcrumbs and oregano on a plate.

4. Dust eggplant slices in flour. Dip in beaten eggs and coat in breadcrumb mixtures.

5. Heat olive in skillet over medium heat and sauté eggplant slices until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.

6. Coat a baking pan with marinara sauce. Arrange eggplant slices on top of the sauce. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and place a slice of mozzarella on top of each eggplant.

7. Cover with remaining marinara sauce.

8. Bake in 325 oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

*From Kid Sccop (http://kidscoop.com/kids/recipes/)

Monkey Bread

aka Applesauce Banana Bread

Delicious very moist bread, even better the day after making. You can mix-and-match different bonus ingredients. The first time I used dried cranberries and dark chocolate pieces. The next time dried apricot pieces and walnuts. YUMMO!

Next time I'm thinking of adding shredded carrot and raisins, or zucchini and walnuts, served toasted with low-fat cream cheese and you have a delic carrot or zucchini cake version. And great for my soon to be 2 year old nieces.

4 bananas, ripe
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 cup+ applesauce (I make it from scratch using a large apple, recipe below)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 T baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cup flour (1 c all-purpose & 1 c whole-wheat)
bonus: 1/2 cup to 1 cup crasins, walnuts, chocolate pieces, dried fruit

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and spray 2 9x5 loaf pans.
2. Mash bananas in large bowl and stir in Splenda. Let stand 15 minutes.
3. Mix in applesauce and eggs.
4. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients
5. Slowly add dry mix to banana mixture and mix well. Add bonus ingredients.
6. Pour into pans and bake for 45 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before removing from pan, cool on wire rack.


*Homemade Applesauce*
1. Peel and dice a large apple.
2. Microwave 3 min in a small bowl.
3. Blend apple (I use my Magic Bullet).

Viola! Homemade applesauce.