Spicy Grilled Eggplant and Pasta

Okay, so I'm getting back into the swing of things, AND as promised yesterday, I'll be locating and posting a nice vegetarian recipe, for those of you out there. I'm also going to be trying to find some nice GLUTEN FREE recipes to post for you non-glute peeps. I'm AWESOME like that! Heh.

I am delighted about what's on TV tonight, last night all that was on was The Goode Family. It's an interesting show but if it went away, I probably wouldn't miss it much. However, TONIGHT ... I love the programming.

Harper's Island:
This show has a very interesting concept, a wedding, on a remote island, and many of the wedding party/guests are being murdered. It's a race to find the killer and stay alive. I am entranced by the drama and the horror of the show. I believe that if it gets good reviews, they'll revisit the same approach with new characters and a new location for the second season. I certainly hope we get a second season of this, as it's simply riveting!

Primeval:
This program is brought to us by one of my abso-effin-lutely favorite stations, BBC America! Those brits, they're a cheeky bunch and their programming reflects it. BBC brings me all kinds of fanciful Sci-Fi stuff. WEET! This is the second season of the show and the premise is a crack team of scientists are trying to figure out why 'anomolies' or portals to other eras are opening up and allowing things like dinosaurs to roam freely through London. Sounds like good times right? Probably, until you get gobbled up by a Tyrannesaurus Rex, or until your car gets smashed to smithereens by a Mammoth. The name of the game for the team? Save the world. (at least it's not a cheerleader!) I enjoy the show for the excellent adventure, the well done effects and the fact that it's not another stupid-arse reality show!

Pushing Daisies:
This is the show I'm going to miss the most. I still can't believe it's been cancelled. PD is so vibrant and imaginative. Perhaps, it was created way before it's time. The characters are compelling and flawed. The premise of the show -- waking up dead people to find out how they died and then cashing in on catching the killer -- was irresistable and made for some funny situations. The dialogue was fantastic, and when Kristen Chenoweth breaks into song, it just makes me giddy! I'm so disappointed that this show is going by the way of so many other phenomenal dramas -- or dramadies -- I suppose people just don't have the attention span they used to. (you know ... when Dynasty and Knots Landing were around?)

Finally ...

The Graham Norton Show:
My new favorite talk show. Graham Norton is irreverant and hilarious! His gusts are fun and everyone has a terrific time. I always get a belly laugh from this talk show!

What ... you all don't watch any of these shows? Where ARE the other TV junkies out there? Hello? lo? lo? lo? ... Well ... no worries. Someday we'll have a show or two in common, I'm confident of it!

Hmmm hmmm ... what's next? Oh yessah! A funny!!!

Redneck Etiquette:

DATING (Outside the Family)

1. Always offer to bait your date's hook, especially on the first date.

2. Be aggressive. Let her know you're interested: "I've been wanting to go out with you since I read that stuff on the bathroom wall two years ago."

3. Establish with her parents what time she is expected back. Some will say 10:00 PM; Others might say "Monday," If the latter is the answer, it is the man's responsibility to get her to school on time.

(If I wasn't so country, and didn't expect my date to bait my fishing hook, I'd be offended!)

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

All this talk about equality. The only thing people really have in common is that they are all going to die.
Bob Dylan

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

No matter what language you speak, you've probably come across words or phrases in another language that sound better than their equivalents in your native tongue. What's your favorite word or phrase in a foreign language?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Gainly

PRONUNCIATION:
(GAYN-lee)

MEANING:
adjective: Graceful; dexterous.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Old Norse gegn (straight, direct).

USAGE:
"Poor Bob Stanfield. His flub of a football pass during the 1974 election campaign made Gerald Ford look gainly."

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Spicy Grilled Eggplant and Pasta




Ingredients:
1 large eggplant
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground red pepper (or to taste)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 medium onion, peeled and halved
6 Roma tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound Penne Pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
6-8 fresh basil leaves

Preparation:
Slice eggplant into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick rounds.

Drizzle olive oil and squeeze lemon juice over eggplant; let sit several minutes until absorbed. Sprinkle oregano, red pepper, salt and pepper over slices.

Lightly brush tomatoes and onion with olive oil.

Grill over medium-high heat until slightly charred (8-10 minutes, turning once).

While eggplant, onion and tomatoes are cooking, cook pasta in salted water until just done, but still a bit firm.

Slice eggplant and onion into bite-sized pieces. Remove peel from tomatoes, if desired, and crush slightly.

Toss pasta with tomatoes. Add eggplant and onion; toss and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and roughly torn basil leaves.

Brightest Blessings,
~Surry~