You Made Fries Outta What??!

That was The Dude's response to my eggplant fries. My mother in law had seen a recipe for baked eggplant fries in the local paper. This recipe is similar, but as we all know, I can't leave well enough alone.

You'll need:

1 large eggplant, peeled and sliced into sticks about the size of your finger

1T salt

pinch cayenne pepper

Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten well

1 tsp oil

bowl full of water

Dissolve 1T salt in about 1/4 cup warm water, then pour into large bowl filled with cool water. Add your eggplant sticks to the bowl and weigh them down with a heavy plate.

That didn't photograph too well did it? Fear not, my new camera arrived! No more crappy pictures...well, no more pictures that are crappy because I don't have a lens on the camera!

After they have soaked for about 30 minutes, take them out and dry thoroughly. Prepare two bowls for breading the sticks: one for the egg, and one for the bread crumbs. Combine the bread crumbs and cayenne pepper, add oil and mix.

Dip the sticks, first in the egg, then in the bread crumbs. Place breaded sticks on well oiled baking pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Really, these are super delicious. Cut the cayenne pepper if you want, but it really doesn't add that much heat. If you use plain bread crumbs, you'll obviously need to add salt and pepper.
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I can't help myself! Here are some pictures I snapped with the new camera! These are from the Mardi Gras parade they had at the preschool. Note: despite the fact that the Pecan Street Preschool Mafia led me to believe that EVERYONE was going and NONE of them showed up, I enjoyed myself. Take THAT Alpha Beauty Queen Mom!!

Waiting for the parade to start.

This hat is goofy.

I think I have more shots of this kid from this angle than any other. Why is that?

Ok, I'm no child psyche expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that unless you want to scare the living crap out of your students, you shouldn't dress like this if you're a preschool teacher.

WARNING! CLOWN PICTURE AHEAD

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I know, I'm sorry. The nightmares. Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me!!!