Pasta Alla Norma with Homegrown Eggplant

Have you ever seen eggplant growing? See the little baby guy...
They remind me of tomatoes and squash on the plant.

I wasn't exactly sure when it was ready to be picked. These three looked big enough, so I cut them off the plant. Next to the eggplant are some leggy broccoli spears. The head are very small but more delicate and easy to chew they the very dense broccoli.

In order to use this great produce, I decided to make Pasta Alla Norma from America's Test Kitchen. It's a very quick recipe. Basically, start boiling some pasta. Then in a skillet with a little of hot oil, brown the eggplant (peeled, cut into chunks), when the eggplant seems to have browned, add some garlic and red pepper flakes to taste. I like to go heavy on the garlic but light on the pepper so Aidan won't mind the heat. Turn the heat down add one can of diced tomatoes, juice and all, simmer for 5 minutes. When pasta is done, serve sauce on top, with your favorite Italian cheese like Parmesan.

Aidan did eat this dish. He tried the eggplant but spit it out. It can take 20 exposures to a new food before a kiddo will accept it. We'll serve it to him again soon because more eggplant will be ready to pick soon!