I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Cabana Stripes



Hi guys! You've heard about "Meatless Mondays" probably.  more info HERE

"Meatless Monday is global movement with a simple message: once a week, cut the meat. Launched in 2003".
This is supposed to enhance our health by us eating ''healthy'' once a week. I'm not a purist [you know we had the endless meatloaf on Monday! And Tuesday, and.....

This week I made Cabana Striped ravioli. You can find all kinds of fun and unusual pastas in the fresh food/ cold case at the market. 



Although truth is, plain cheese ravs are probably the best? I was peering in and saw these adorable pastas! Big yellow and white striped pasta squares. Cute.




Usually striped pasta is lobster or squid, not something I want to eat. Ever.  So I was very pleased to see this box of goat cheese dried tomato ravs.



They cook in only 3 minutes.

I made a fresh eggplant sauce for the ravioli. I found an organic eggplant--not thrilled with the massive packaging! And it wasn't ripe. But, ok.



Peel, dice, salt, wait 15 minutes. Rise and drain.


Get the pasta water started, but don't boil the ravs yet.

Put some olive oil in a heavy pan and saute the eggplant. Towards the end add minced garlic and half moon chop / diced onions.



Eggplant isn't so pretty but it smells great and tastes delicious!



When the eggplant is translucent and soft, add fresh tomatoes and black olives or capers. 



I just used the prepared Italian salad from the deli case. 







Separate the little mozzarella balls. De-pit the olives!!! Toss everything, add some wine or broth or water--just a smidge. 1/4 C?. Salt , pepper, basil. Sugar or sweetener, 1 T will remove the acidity of the vegs. Simmer gently.




Now cook the ravioli. After three minutes, scoop the ravioli into the sauce pot. Use a slotted spoon or tongs. [the ravioli can be fragile]. 



Gently toss everything, adding the reserved mozzarella balls







Serve with freshly grated parm.



The entire meal took less than 3o minutes to prepare. The dozen ravs were dinner for three people.



I made a big tricolor salad on the side: radicchio, endive, and romaine; bleu cheese, walnuts. Lemon juice and olive oil, very simple dressing. The ravioli is also really good with raised broccolini, in season right now and sooo delicious.
.......
As you know we're having lots of snow here at the beach.


Snow days mean sewing days. Today I made an audition section of a sawtooth border for Pokeberry. I figured I should make a tryout before I made 150 or so half square triangles, aka sawteeth. Sawtooths?




Oh. Oh yes. 



yes yes yes. I love it, it's perfect.



Don't mind Mo, he likes things snugglier and fuzzier,lol.



Very cold weather is coming. Zero on Saturday. Even I might curtail my beach walks if it's freakn' 0* How about you?




love

lizzy

gone to the beach....




PS Mo loved The Puppy Bowl.



9 comments:

  1. That looks good, except for I'm not a fan of eggplant! LOL
    It was a tshirt and vest day today! Warmest we've had yet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. NICE! Sometimes eggplant doesn't do it for me either, but that dish sounds great. I think the addition of the olives and capers sold me. Thanks for the idea. I am beginning to think more about the way animals are treated and it's caused me to cut back on eating meat...not completely, and it's still new to me, so I am a work in progress. I frankly am quite surprised at myself.

    Oh my gosh, I LOVE the addition of the saw- tooth border, I really do!

    Ick, zero degrees does not sound fun. You guys stay warm. Stupid hot here the last couple days. In the 90's! What!

    Cute Mo watching Puppy Bowl! We went to a dog beach Super Bowl Sunday, we had as much fun as MO did I bet.

    Kel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can t imagine not liking eggpnat! That never occurred to me. But you can make a similar fresh veggie sauce with other vegs, like summer squash or red sweet peppers. Whatever you like.

      Your doggy beach sounds so fun, I kinda wish we had that for Mo, but on the other hand I d never go because he d run away. Enjoy your 90*, I can t BELIeVE it.

      love

      lizzy

      Delete
  3. Your recipe sounds and looks delicious!
    I love eggplant...I plant a lot in my garden and freeze healthy eggplant parms to enjoy all winter. The sawtooth is just perfect! I love it and your quilt. Can't wait to see the whole thing. I finally got all my leaves and other parts prepped for my border on the Springtime quilt. I'm hoping to get my borders cut today and start assembling for stitching. I also prepped all 7 blocks for the 1857 sampler quilt by Sentimental Stitches.
    We're due for some really cold weather this weekend also. My pups are staying under their warm fleece and do not want to go out! They're not a fashionista like Mo and won't let me dress them in warm doggie clothing!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That dish looked wonderful! I loved Mo's expression as he stood on your work in progress. I enjoy your blog very much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! T I did a reply via Google, not sure if that works. Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  5. We're meat lovers, I've only done meatless a few times when my daughter decided she wanted to be a vegetarian (she who would NEVER eat her veggies as a child!). I don't mind meatless meals, though. I don't think I've ever had eggplant, I know I've never cooked it. I'll have to try it someday. I *LOVE* squid, though!! Sauté in butter with just salt and pepper, yum! None of our small stores carry any of this interesting stuff, I'd have to look when I'm out of town and have a cooler to haul food home.

    Love the quilt, the sawtooth border will look great! Mo's face is so funny. Him watching TV is so cute! Spook used to watch Stargate Atlantis with me - I think he liked McKay waving his arms around, LOL.

    Yikes! I would be hibernating at 0 degrees! It's supposed to get down to 30 here on the weekend, then warm up a bit and rain. I'm really not going to be happy if we have this much warm weather and then we get ice or something. Fickle weather!

    Stay warm!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am not a fan of eggplant either but cooked this way, I might try it! Thanks for the idea. I used to do meatless mondays - should get back to that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I acquire eggplant semi-regularly and never seem to know what to do with them ... thanks for the great idea! It looks like it was festive inside even if it wasn't so hospitable outside!

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I'm allowing comments from everyone, even anonymous for awhile, to see what happens. With comments moderation. Hopefully the awful porn spammer has gone elsewhere. Or you can always email me! I love to hear from everyone.