We did happen to get a few eggplants from the seeds I started last spring. They weren’t perfect—a few brown scars on them—but they certainly cooked into some delish eggplant parmigiana. Eggplant is one of those vegetables that you may think you don’t like until you eat my crispy-crusted, mush-free parmigiana. Wait, did I just say that? Or was it the eggplant talking? Supposedly the eggplant was only eaten in small doses in the middle ages as it had the power to make people rather cuculo—crazy in the head. Which is why I’m bragging absurdly about my cooking, right?
What is crazy is how much I miss my dear Nona. Nona had this inability to see us grandchildren as anything but perfect little angels. Except when we weren’t eating enough food at her house. “You don’t love me! Eat my food!” She would kiss us, telling us in Italian, “Bacio il mio bambino!”, which she would then helpfully translate, “I kiss you my baby.” When my father came to her house for the first time, he won over his future mother-in-law by eating sixteen of her monstrous homemade ravioli. I’d give my right arm for some of those ravioli. Now THAT was food to brag about!
Anyways, garden fresh eggplant is marvelous. No bitterness or toughness at all. But I can’t make you any of my eggplant parmigiana (unless we settle for the grocery store variety) until next summer…
3 comments:
Buon appetito! Looks superb! Nona'd be proud!
I've been missing Nona crazily every day. I think I've teared up or cried every day this month. I have always loved thanksgiving the most, but because it was the last time we saw her, it makes me sad because it makes me miss her. What a perfect thanksgiving it was, but it still makes me sad. I almost called you or your mom today because I missed her so much. I do need to call both of you. soon, i promise!
pinches!
Call me, Anika!! I'm available whenever to chat. Butt pinches back.
And some for you too, Mama! :)
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