Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Try this the next time you have a large and beautiful eggplant (yum!)
1. Cut slices about 1/4th inch think out of the eggplant and soak them in cold salt water.
2. Mix chickpea flour, salt, cumin powder, and red chilly powder in a plate, add as much chilly and salt as per preference.
3. Heat some oil in a frying pan and dredge the pieces of eggplant in this mixture, put them in the pan.
4. Cook on each side for about 5 mins, on medium heat. Sprinkle some water over them once in between. Cover till done.

This is my grandmother's recipe and I just love it, do try it the next time you have an eggplant as lovely as the ones in the pic!!!

I never salt large eggplant (a number of really good cooks I know do not either), so do yourself a favor and try this. Cut some rounds and salt one and no salt on another. Wash each, then try each....stop taking someone's word for correct or not. Maybe I just can't taste bitter, but I doubt it. Same goes for washing mushrooms....they are 95% water already and your washing them will not add a smidgen of water to the pot.

I do this dish with roasted or grilled eggplant and sometimes with sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. It is something you can flip flop out the ingredients because it is perfection as long as the produce is fresh.
I also do a version of this with cucuzza or yellow squash which my nonna called cagoots (bad italian, great woman).

Ok, here's a question I need answered once and for all: Which eggplants should I prefer in the store -- the smaller ones or the bigger ones? I am surrounded by people who claim not to like eggplant, but I've heard that the smaller ones (I think) are younger and less bitter. What's the real story?

O M G

definitely jelly on top BECAUSE that way the PB doesn't stick to the roof of my mouth. This is from an anti-PBJ/peanutbutter in general person though.

Creating simple meals with lots of veggies!

I pay attention to the food I ingest and eat less processed comestibles.

Seasonal, simple, meals. Be mindful of meat. His work has been a constant reminder that eating and feeling well doesn't mean re-inventing the wheel.

He's taught me that you don't have to go without the things you love...and since I love bacon, that's precious to me.

I need to eat more veggies.

When I go out to lunch I almost always take a book with me. It could be anything from James Patterson to Tim Dorsey to books on the history of motorcycle clubs to Jesse Venturas political books. I have no preference, I'll read just about anything that interests me.

He has inspired me to be more aware of the foods that I consume, and to reduce processed foods in favor of fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm even planting a garden this year for the first time!

I try to get a lot more vegetables in every day.