Trailer Class in the Kitchen

Before

A Little before and after at our home.

After

Classy Eggplant Parmesan

Make use of last nights rice, remember to use everything you've got in your refrigerator because you have to have enough money at the end of the month to pay the $560 lot rent. Eat eggs they are a great inexpensive source of protein.

 Ingredients

1.One jar of Ragu or generic brand of spaghetti sauce

2. Two 1-pound eggplants

3.  Six tablespoons of olive oil

4. One cup of cooked rice.  

5.  1/2 cup of Parmigiana-Reggiano or just use Parmesan cheese

6. Two cloves of garlic minced

7. Six large eggs slightly beaten

8. 1/2 cup of water

9. 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
10 1/2-pound of arugula
11. 1 cup of basil leaves
12. 1/2-pound mozzarella cut into 1/2 inch slices

Cooking Instructions

Bake the Eggplant

Cut 1/3 inch thick slices of eggplant. Brush both sides with 2 tablespoons of oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bake on an oiled baking sheet.  Cook 10 to 15 minutes and then flip and cook another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven , transfer to a plate and keep warm. You can leave the oven on.

Make egg patties and sauté arugula

Stir together rice, Parmesan cheese, 1 clove of garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper, then stir in eggs and water.

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 12 inch heavy skillet over medium heat. When it gets shiny scoop 1/3 cup of egg mixture into the skillet and cook, flipping like a pancake when necessary. When done remove from heat and set on paper towel. 

Add another tablespoon of oil, cook another clove of garlic along with red-pepper flakes, stirring for a mere 30 seconds. Add arugula and basil and stir until wilted, then stir in a dash of salt.

Sauce

Microwave about 1 cup of Ragu in a measuring cup for 60 seconds.

Assembly

Arrange 4 egg patties on a baking sheet. Top with  2 tablespoons of Ragu, 1 slice of mozzarella, another eggplant slice, 2 more tablespoons of Ragu, another eggplant slice, arugula mixture and top with one more piece of eggplant. Bake until the cheese melts- 5 or 10 minutes. Before removing from the oven sprinkle a little more Parmesan on top of each stack until lightly browned which will just ups the classiness factor of this meal.

You may have to leave out the basil and the Parmigiana-Reggiano if you get talked into the car.