Tomatolicious!

It has been awhile since I have been to the local market - the main reason being that I had moved and am still to discover one that is in my new local area. So it was with unrestrained joy that I saw the local fruit and vegetable market was still open today when I was visiting my old neighbourhood.

I gazed at the mounds of produce, glistening under the recent gentle shower, beckoning with their bargain bountiness. I could barely restrain my greed, wanting to clasp up the short stubby cucumbers I remembered growing in my grandfathers garden in my childhood, or the plump, juicy white cherries, or the large watermelons ... for just £3! I managed to restrain myself to a shinning aubergine, a bowl full of variously coloured peppers (or capsicum, as I can't help but sometimes think of them), a bowl of tomatoes and some juicy plump peaches.

Supper tonight was my home made version of Aubergine Parmigiana, which I made one night in a desperate attempt to copy the meal so perfectly served in many Italian restaurants. It is not necessarily anything near as good as the many recipes you could find in cookbooks, but it is quick, simple, and showcases this vegetable in a delicious and healthy way:

Aubergine Parmigiana
One unblemished aubergine, perfectly purple, sliced lenghtways
A splash of olive oil in a pan, in this case a grill pan which gives a nice appearance
An opened can of crushed tomatoes into which a minced garlic bulb is stirred (pre-heated if you like)
In a baking dish layer the cooked aubergine with the crushed tomatoes, seasoning as you go
Liberally sprinkle with grated mozarella (or chedder as it was tonight as that was all I had handy)
Bake in an oven at around 200 degrees until the cheese is brown and the sauce is bubbling
Serve with salad

For desert, I had one of the sweet peaches, which my friend had promised was better than any that she had had in sun warmed Spain the previous week - and she was right. Delicious!

And before you ask why I didn't make the tomoto sauce for my dinner from those I bought at the market, you're right - it would have been delicious, but I am currently searching for a relish or chutney recipe for those beauties, and for some other tomatoes and a bowl of onions which are in situ on the kitchen bench and are begging to be used. I hope to present them in my next post.