Eggplant

K, Tevita does not enjoy the incredible edible egg(plant). Heaven knows he's tried. But it's just not for him and heaven also knows that he's had to make adjustments to his taste buds since marrying me. . . let's just say his wife loves garlic only second to her husband. So I don't fault him for setting a boundary, drawing a line if you will, in our menu. And it's not like he hates eggplant, he just prefers not to eat it if given a choice.

Anyway, eggplant was in abundance at the farmer's market so I bought it. And since Ti has his preferences, I basically ate it all by myself. Which I love because have you ever had roasted eggplant on crusty bread with olive oil and kalamata olives? Divine.

So basically, I roasted all the eggplant in batches.

That's the before photo up there, sliced eggplant with olive oil, salt, and minced garlic.

And below is the "after" picture! They come out with the skins on! It's an eggplant miracle.!

Yeah, obviously one batch is peeled and another is not. I like the skins on but wanted to try something different. It's a pain to peel Japanese eggplant and since I like the flavor, I leave the skins on.

I put all the batches of eggplant in a bowl for storing and made some pretty tasty dishes:

Flat bread with eggplant spread (heated and mushed roasted eggplant from above), feta, and tomato. Cook in 450 degree oven till the edges of the bread is brown. I added kalamata olives after I took the photo.

There's another photo. Just playing around with my camera. This was a really good dinner. I think I ate it with sliced apple.

Another night, I added that same eggplant mush to these:
Added more garlic and heated it all up in a pan! Then added the sauce to:
and Gah! I can't find the photo on the gobs of pictures on my camera. But basically, it's a yummy and very filling pasta (duh.), dish! And also the only one that Ti tried and enjoyed!

And look at this!
It seriously looks disgusting. Ew. It's a veggie and polenta bake. But it tastes WONDERFUL. So I'll end this post with this recipe and hopefully, somebody will dare to try it and take a more appetizing photo.

Veggie and Polenta Bake

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 medium eggplant, diced
1 small zucchini, diced
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 cup water
1 10oz bag of baby spinach (a couple of handfuls)
1 1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup chopped basil
1 8x8in pan, polenta already cooked
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, divided (omit if dairy free)
pinch of hot pepper

Heat oil in non-stick skillet and add the next four ingredients. Stir till tender and beginning to brown. Add water and spinach; cover and cook till wilted, stirring just once. Stir marinara sauce and hot pepper into the vegetables and heat through (about 3 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in basil.

Sprinkle polenta with 3/4 cup cheese, top with veggie mixture, add remaining cheese.

Bake in 450 degree oven until bubbling and cheese has melted (about 15 minutes).

And enjoy!

Tuscan Bean Soup

This soup is delicious. I promise you, it'll knock your socks off. It's one of those dishes where you don't realize or you forget just how tasty it is until you take that first bite. I haven't made it in awhile and am going to make it tonight. This big pot lasts us about 3 or 4 days in my house. Crusty bread and sliced apples or crusty bread and a bowl of berries are excellent side dishes to this soup. And is it a soup?? I don't know about that. It "eats like a meal". And sorry for the 80's reference, I can't think of anything creative right now. My head is exploding with love for our Capitol, which is where Ti and I have been the last week. We're in love with Washington, D.C.

The recipe might seem daunting at first because of all the chopping. At least it did for me. But ultimately, it's a dump and cook recipe. See all those beans? With the red potato and the barley? I can't find the spinach in these photos but it's in there! . . . Come to think of it, maybe I forgot to add it in this batch but it's great with the spinach.

Tuscan Bean Soup

1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped, including some of the greens
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ( I end up using triple that. Just keepin' it real).
1 tablespoon of flour (can omit if gluten-free)
1 tablespoon of rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary (I used dry and the teaspoon is overflowing)
1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme (again, overflow)
1 large bay leaf
black pepper to taste
4-14.5 ounce cans organic chicken broth (I like the salt. You can use reduced salt and it will still be flavorful)
1 cup frozen baby lime beans, rinsed (not a science. I throw the whole frozen package in)
1 15oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 15oz can red beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup barley, uncooked (brown rice for gluten-free)
1 medium red potato cut into cubes (I used three)
2 sliced carrots
1 cup packed, slivered spinach leaves

In a large saucepan, saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the oil 2 to 3 minutes; stir in the flour, herbs, garlic, and pepper, and saute until the onions are tender. Add the chicken broth, beans, and tomato paste to the saucepan; heat to boiling. Add the barley, potato, and carrots. Return to a low simmer, and cook for 25 minutes. Stir in spinach. Cook for 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and fish out bay leaf!!

I hope hope hope somebody out there tries this and shares in the joy!!

2009

It started with a knock at the door when we lived in TVA. My friend of twenty years came to surprise me and I was so excited to see her! Not. A couple of years before she, having 4 siblings and parents in Hawaii, asked that I come and pick up her and her husband from the honolulu airport at 6AM so that her family would not have to get up so early. Yeah, I recognize that I agreed to it so no victim or martyr identity here, k?


Anyway, on our way back from the airport, she goes on a rampage. This is not new for her, but a friendship of twenty years can really only exist if we are willing to overlook the unpleasant aspects of each others' person, yes? And that while I overlooked her stuff, she more than willing and very generously ignored mine as well.

So on our way back, she's going off. Again. On Tongans. Again. She had been doing this for years and did she not know that my husband is Tongan? Yes. Yes, she did. And she was entirely supportive, excited, and grateful that Tevita and I got married. She has a blindspot, though.

Now this is one area where I have to stop and make a side note. I think everyone has biases. It's just part of being human. Health issues have been the cause of my weight gain for the past 6 years and Doctors are just figuring out now how to help. But in these years, I have noticed an incredible amount of bias toward me. Seriously. People treat me differently than when I was a skinny, assertive, sarcastic, feminist. Now that I'm a overweigh one, they discount and even ignore all the personality attributes that used to be admirable at worst.

That said, how CUTE is this photo that is totally unrelated to the subject at hand?

I took it at Newseum in D.C this 2009 year when I got two tickets to go to President Obama's Inauguration. I stayed for a week and after the event, I toured the town like the shameless Aloha-shirt wearing visitors I've made fun of for so many years here in Hawaii. This photo reflects the blessings of the Freedom of Press. In the display there were cute demonstrations! Ok, some of them not so cute. (I don't do graphic violent depictions of babies and feel there are more dignified and effective ways of communicating a desire to change a law, pro-life demonstrators. But hey, THIS IS AMERICA!!). This particular image inspired me so I had to take a photo of the photo.

And on another side note, I think President Obama inspired/s us all to stand up for what we believe and I love that this was an issue for these little girls and that they used the first amendment and took a stand!

Oh, and here's another photo unrelated to the topic, but also a hilarious reminder of the highlight of my year.

This guy was in LOVE with Megan, my friend who braved the FREEZING COLD with me. This was on Inauguration Day right in front of the reflection pond at the Capitol. I still laugh when I remember the little soap operas that occur when you've been standing with the same people for over 7 hrs in 14 degree D.C. weather.

This is Megan with Neil, her husband. (And this photo is me showing you how easy it is to pilfer pics from another blog. Had to do it, Megan )
I stayed with these two, last minute. And the reason it was last minute is a horrifying story to be told . . . never. Anyway, I love these two. Seriously, I can't decide who I love more out of this couple! ha! So I'm glad they're together, I don't need to decide.

And since we're on the D.C. subject, here's the capitol.

Don't judge the photo. I was freezing and did my best. Besides, you can see perfectly balanced and symmetrical depictions of the United States Capitol ANYWHERE. It's the flaws that make us appreciate the reality of reality. And also, that make us laugh.

Ok, one more.
Does this not look like a fun congratulatory sign for the President???

It's an advertisement.

FOR PEPSI.

Yeah, everyone was cashing in on the inauguration. Including a former friend who used my ball ticket and never paid me.

Which brings me back to the the issue at hand.

2009 was an unexpected year of "cleansing".

Why had I been hanging on to the same dysfunctional, sometimes even toxic relationships for so long? It took a surprise visit, the inauguration of a President, and a large dose of healthy friendships to help me recognize, work through the letting-go process, and be open to fun new possibilities.

Also, as I did this, my health improved! SERIOUSLY IMPROVED.

So 2009 was a buggah. But I'd say it was worth it. I'm happier, healthier, and have fewer friends (and thus fewer people-pleasing tendencies) than ever!!! Quality, not quantity was the lesson learned.

And of course, my bestest friendship is still in tact!
An old photo but Ti has all our current photos on his computer in his office. I love him more now than the day this one was taken 7 years ago. Plus, Tevita can't stand his smile in this photo but it totally cracks me up! I love it. Completely reminds me of this episode of Friends. The first minute will give you an idea of what Tevita says is his issue! hahaha!



Super fun things happened with Tevita as well. An invitation to Oxford, a coming into his role as a young Bishop, and a new passport! All things I'll get to posting about soon.

In the meantime, hope you all have a very very Happy New Year.