Eyes Wide Open

Sunshine, Lollipop & Rainbow

2014-02-15T13:44:00.002-05:00

Sunshine, Lollipop and Rainbow

2014-02-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Soothing

2014-01-16T12:22:00.001-05:00

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either.”
― Elizabeth Zimmermann

January Fog

2014-01-16T11:52:00.003-05:00

Baba Ghanouj (Roasted Eggplant Dip)

2014-01-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

Baba Ghanouj (click to enlarge)

This is usually just a photo blog but today I am going to share a recipe with my photo. Watching a television cooking show one afternoon before Christmas (In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita) I saw this recipe that looked easy enough so I bought some eggplants and gave it a try. It turned out very well so I scooped it into these little stoneware pots I found at the Dollar Store, secured the lids to the pots with elastic glitter cord, and presto, I had a few little gifts to bring around to my neighbours. This dip is very tasty and healthy too!

INGREDIENTS

2 medium to medium large eggplants

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Olive oil, as needed

1 head garlic, for roasting with eggplant

1/4 cup tahini paste

Juce of 1 lemon

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 to 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped for a more garlicky flavour (optional)

Olive oil, for drizzling (optional)

Paprika, for garnishing (opitional)

Handful chopped mint or parsley, for garnishing (optional)

Flatbread or grilled pita breads, for serving

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush baking sheet with a little olive oil.

Cut eggplant in half. Transfer to prepared baking dish, cut side down. Drizzle eggplant with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Cut just the very tip off the head of garlic. Drizzle garlic with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil. Add to baking sheet with eggplant.

Roast eggplant and garlic until both are golden and tender, about 45 to 50 minutes.

Scoop out meat of eggplant from skin. If needed, let strain to release any excess water.

Add roasted eggplant, roasted garlic, tahini paste, olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, and salt and pepper to food processor. (I used a hand blender) Puree until smooth, drizzling more olive oil, if needed. For a thicker dip, add more tahini paste. Taste and adjust for seasoning. For a more garlicky flavour, add finely chopped fresh garlic.

Transfer dip to serving dish. Garnish with drizzle of olive oil, paprika, parsley or mint, as desired. Serve with flat bread or grilled pita bread.

Yield: About 3 cups.

Toronto Ice Storm Up Close

2014-01-01T18:34:00.000-05:00

My Little Princess

2012-12-14T20:42:00.000-05:00

Lollipop

2012-09-08T13:03:00.001-04:00

Butterfly on Echinacea

2012-07-24T16:10:00.001-04:00

First Tomato (2012)

2012-07-24T15:23:00.004-04:00

An Orchid Study

2012-06-11T17:04:00.001-04:00

Sweetness in the air

2012-06-09T16:55:00.001-04:00

Nuts About Peanuts

2012-06-01T23:20:00.001-04:00

Backyard Purple Finch

2012-05-28T10:32:00.001-04:00

Backyard Visitor

2012-05-28T10:16:00.001-04:00

The Butterfly and the Housefly

2012-05-03T18:14:00.001-04:00

I have no idea what kind of butterfly this is, or if in fact it is a butterfly. It's closed wings looked rather moth-like. I was so focused on capturing the butterfly with my camera I didn't see the fly beside him until I looked at the photo on my laptop.

Lollipop enjoys a frozen treat!

2012-04-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

I saved her a bit of frozen Greek Yogurt Smoothie--it's good to the last drop!

Waiting for blow-dry!

2012-04-15T14:46:00.001-04:00

Lollipop Relaxing with Friend

2012-04-15T14:13:00.001-04:00

Clean and Dry

2012-04-15T14:10:00.001-04:00

Lollipop relaxing with a friend (FunnyBug) after her Sunday morning bath.

Chickadee Nest

2012-04-09T12:06:00.001-04:00

That woodpecker banquet, termite infested, tree that I showed a couple of days ago has an inhabitant on the other side. Chickadees live here! Oh dear! Won't they be annoyed with me when the city shows up to remove the tree.

Diva

2012-04-09T11:58:00.001-04:00

This is Diva, the American Cocker Spaniel that Lollipop keep meeting on our walks. We met her and her owner again yesterday; they were taking a walk before going out to dinner. I thought Diva was a young dog but my companion who is a nurse noticed a catarac in her eye so now I think she might be an older dog. Nurse Susan told me I would see the cataracs in the photo . . . I think I do. I love the way this pretty dog is groomed; she seems to have a skirt at each ankle. It was a little difficult to get a good photo of her; she kept moving. Another thing I have just noticed--Diva sounds like a girl's name but her leash is blue. Could Diva be a boy?

Woodpeckers or something more?

2012-04-05T17:11:00.001-04:00

I saw this tree on a city street, public property. It looks like woodpeckers have had a good time here . . . or is it something more?

Pool Beauties

2012-04-04T12:47:00.001-04:00

These beauties are a new variety (sorry I did not catch the name) I saw at our recent Canada Blooms show. They looked lovely hanging in the mist from the pool but the attendant told me they do not require much water, actually prefer a dry soil. These were potted and the pots hidden.

6 lb Guard Dog

2012-04-04T10:42:00.001-04:00