E is for Eggplant

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Eggplants... Now Starring in 'Ratatouille'

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. Most people think eggplant is a vegetable, but it's actually a fruit and classified botanically as a berry. Colors vary from white (which is how the eggplant got its name) to dark black, with the most common hue being purple. Highly versatile in cooking, eggplants can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as pan-fried, breaded, deep-fried, baked, and grilled.

Eggplant 

A Few Facts Courtesy of Wikipedia

The eggplant, aubergine, brinjal, or baingan (in India) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades) and genus Solanum. It bears a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. As a nightshade, it is closely related to the tomato and potato and is native to India and Sri Lanka.

The fruit is botanically classified as a berry, and contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible, but are bitter because they contain (an insignificant amount of) nicotinoid alkaloids, unsurprising as it is a close relative of tobacco.

The raw fruit can have a somewhat bitter taste, but becomes tender when cooked and develops a rich, complex flavor. Salting and then rinsing the sliced eggplant (known as "degorging") can soften and remove much of the bitterness though this is often unnecessary. Some modern varieties do not need this treatment, as they are far less bitter. The eggplant is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, allowing for very rich dishes, but the salting process will reduce the amount of oil absorbed. The fruit flesh is smooth; as in the related tomato, the numerous seeds are soft and edible along with the rest of the fruit. The thin skin is also edible, so that the eggplant need not be peeled.

Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant with Sake on a Bed of Soba Noodles

Eggplant Recipes & More 

Simply Recipes Eggplant Parmesan, Eggplant Lentil Stew with Pomegranate Molasses, Italian Sausages with Ratatouille, and more.

Italian Food Forever Baked Individual Eggplant Parmesan, Fried Eggplant, Eggplant Croquettes, Eggplant Parmesan, Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Salad, Stuffed Eggplants, Marinated Eggplant, Eggplant au Gratin, and more.

Southern U.S. Cuisine Eggplant Ground Beef Casserole, Eggplant Casserole with Cheddar Cheese, Eggplant Parmesan with Herb Tomato Sauce, Eggplant Sandwiches with Mozzarella, Grilled Japanese Eggplant, and more.

Tender Pickled Baby Eggplants

Eggplant for the Pantry 

Caponata-Eggplant Appetizer (MP) 19.3oz (545g)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Cento Caponata Eggplant Appetizer 7.5 oz (213 g)

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Melissa's Thai Eggplant, (2 lb)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Cereal Terra Organic Eggplant Cream, 4.5 oz.

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Eggplant Penguins

Eggplant Salt and Pepper Shakers 

Add a Touch of Eggplant in the Kitchen

Eggplant Salt & Pepper Shakers Set by Home Gourmet Collection

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)Buy Now

Glazed ceramic shakers measure 4.5 inches tall.

Eggplant Family with Hats

Grow Your Own Eggplant 

Eggplant Seeds on Amazon

Organic Japanese Pickling Eggplant 50 Seeds

Amazon Price: $2.46 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Imperial Black Beauty Eggplant 50 Seeds/Seed - Heirloom

Amazon Price: $2.89 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Green and White Thai Kermit Eggplants 20 Seeds

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Red Eggplant 20 Seeds - Gilo -RARE

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Organic Snowy White Eggplant 50 Seeds

Amazon Price: $2.89 (as of 12/24/2009) Buy Now

Heart Shaped Eggplants

Eggplant Seeds on eBay 

Grow Your Own Eggplant

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Gardening Resources on Squidoo 

These Lensmasters Have Green Thumbs

What's the Buzz on Eggplant? 

Here's What Bloggers are Saying About Eggplant

Recipe: Vegan Eggplant "Parmesan" | ireallylikefood
Recipe: Vegan Eggplant "Parmesan". By popular request, here is the recipe a lot of my readers have been asking for! Vegetarian Asian and Italian dishes are my personal specialties in the kitchen. Of course, I've always had a liking for ...
Recipe: Chinese Eggplant | ireallylikefood
I'm back with yet another recipe now that I am done with exams for today (and almost for the semester - 1 more to go!). This recipe is for Chinese eggplant, and I got the idea to post it because I'm going to be making it tomorrow and ...
egg plant lasagna - The Secret Recipe Forum
I am looking for a recipe that came out of a St. Louis newspaper (Globe Democrat or maybe the Clayton Journal) back in the early to mid 1980's. It is.
Grilled Eggplant With Soy Sauce Recipe @ CDKitchen.com :: it's ...
A recipe for Grilled Eggplant With Soy Sauce containing Asian eggplants (long thin, but not baby eggplants) scallions, minced peanut oil soy sauce fish sauce.

How About an Eggplant Rocking Chair? 

Suitable for Children 9 months to 2 years

Rock 'N Roll Eggplant

Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)Buy Now

It's okay to play with your vegetables! This smiling eggplant-shaped rocker features a comfortable seat and backrest, and a handle made for tiny hands. It measures 24' x 12" x 15".

Eggplant on Squidoo 

W is for Welcome 

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Lensmaster KimGiancaterino has been a member since October 30 2006, has rated 8,375 lenses, favorited 4,103, and has created 291 lenses from scratch. Kim Giancaterino donates their royalties to Asante Africa Foundation. This member's top-ranked page is "Yearbook Yourself: See How You'd Look in 1950s-1990s Yearbooks". See all my lenses

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