Eggplant Dishes Part 1

So lately I have been trying some new things with eggplants that have turned out quite well. On its own I find eggplant to be a bit bland but is quite tasty when added to other kinds of foods and flavours. The first dish I would like to share is 'Yam/Rice Casserole' I'm not sure if casserole is the right word for this dish, but it feels right, so I'll go with it.



Yam/Rice Casserole



1 Yam (cubed)

2/3 C. Rice (1 1/3 C. Water)

1 Small Eggplant (sliced)

3 tbsp. Hoisin Sauce

2/3 C. Shredded Cheese

Desired Seasonings.

1. Wash Rice before cooking it. Cook rice and water in a small pot. when the rice begins to boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the water has evaporated.

2. Boil the cubed yam until you are able to mash it with a fork.

3. While the rice and yam cubes are cooking, fry up the eggplant slices and season as desired.

4. In a small mixing bowl blend the yam with a hand blender until smooth

5. add the mashed yam to the rice, mix thoroughly.

6. Put the yam rice mixture in a small oven safe pan (such as a loaf pan) spread the hoisin sauce on top then layer with the fried eggplant slices. Cover with shredded cheese.

7. Bake in the oven (400 F) until the cheese is completely melted.

Makes 2-3 servings.

One man's junk is another man's treasure

For those of you who don't know what I have been up to recently, I am kind of on the down and out. For the past 3 months I have been looking for work in Edmonton but have been unsuccessful. I am looking for part time work while I deal with some things and I think finding part time work is more difficult than finding full time work.

Although I do have money left over from my last job and I am kind of been supported through family, friends and EI I am still ambitious to make more so I can support myself. Since work is hard to find I have resorted to finding whatever I can as I journey through the city. Some times I find loose change or bottles and cans or discarded clothing... whatever. If I think it is useful and someone threw it away I might take it.

Anyway, Yesterday I started to do something I did not do before, I started to dig through trash cans to look for recyclables. I found many bottles and cans that people had placed in the wrong spot, but also some other interesting items:

• A decent cake pan (the kind with the removable side)
• A pair of gloves
• A slightly dented unopened can of diced tomatoes
• An unpeeled greenish yellow banana
• A pair of Uggs
• A pack of sheets talking about self esteem (very good advice for me on those sheets)

I took everything but the Uggs; they were not my size. Digging through the trash is humbling, but I am sure that it is a reality that many people have come to in these hard times.

I feel that I am being drawn towards a lifestyle of poverty and that I can not seem to escape from it. During the last Bible Study I went to someone posed the question 'What is God doing in your life [right now]?' This question is based on the assumption that God is always doing something in my life whether I am aware of it or not. Therefore, whatever I am going through right now, God has a part to play in it. This leads me to believe that my state of semi-poverty is somehow ordained, even if it hurts and I don't understand. What is God trying to tell me?

In a recent Facebook status I talked about foot washing and how it has appeared in my life throughout the past 6ish years. The symbol of washing someones feet brings up ideas of humility, service, health, cleanliness, relationship, trust, etc.; it is all around a good thing. When I couple foot washing with my exposure to a lifestyle of poverty I begin to wonder if I am supposed to 'wash the feet of the poor' or whatever that might mean realistically. I will have to look at this closely.

Erin's Fabulous Baking

Every week I have the pleasure of visiting my friends Matt and Erin to have a bible study with them and other friends from church. It is a time to discuss topics of faith and religion, socialize and of course... enjoy some of the finest food and drink! Matt can usually be found making hot drinks such as lattes, hot chocolate or his signature hot apple cider ( Christmas only :( ) for guests as they arrive. Meanwhile Erin puts the finishing touches on whatever delicious food she is making that evening.

Last week we were treated to "Chocolate Dump Cake" which was great. Apparently it is super easy to make as well. I do not know the exact ingredients but I do know that it has chocolate and peanut butter in it with is always a win. All it needs is to mix the ingredients together in a microwavable container and put it in the microwave for 10 minutes and its done! Above is a picture of the remains of the "Chocolate Dump Cake" after it had mostly been devoured. The week before she made a dessert pizza made with a cookie crust, cream cheese cake filling, and fruit toppings, it was great too!

I look forward to meeting this week, not just for the great food and drink, but also for great discussions and great friends.