Hiking was fun!
Lots of great look-out points and spots to rest our weary legs. We were spoiled with a 30C hot and sunny day today. We have to make use of all of these last warm days that we can.
Being a goof ball in my No Meat Athlete tee!
Love this pic!
This was another favourite picture. :)
For dinner we wanted something light and summery. We were in luck because we had a whole crisper full of CSA veggies to eat up.
Eggplants are so fun. :) I was very excited to get one in last week’s CSA.
I used to not like eggplant too! Another recent conquest in the past 2 years.
Chewy Eggplant Chips
Inspired by VegWeb.
Ingredients:
- 1 eggplant, sliced into 1/4” rounds
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2-1 tsp Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Herbs/spices of your choice (I used fresh rosemary)
Directions: Preheat oven to 400F and grab two baking sheets and line with foil. Cut eggplant into rounds. Top with olive oil and seasonings and mix all around coating both sides. Cook for about 14 minutes on each side, watching closely. They turn into chewy chips- not hard or crunchy. They were great for rolling up like a burrito (see below).
These were pretty good, although a bit bland unless I loaded them up! I would suggest using other spices to spice them up a little. :)
We also made yellow tomato salsa and guacamole.
So sweet it hurts.
Yellow Tomato Pico De Gallo/Salsa
Inspired by Pioneer Woman.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups yellow tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cocktail tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- Handful Cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 lemon juice
- squirt of lime juice
- pinch sea salt
- black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
Directions: Chop all ingredients and mix well.
For the guacamole I just smashed 2 avocados, added a big scoop of the above salsa, and lots of sea salt to taste.
And…..mix!
We had it with black bean chips and chewy eggplant chips…
It was a very refreshing and light dinner.
I’m off to finish some laundry and then kick up my feet for a couple hours.
I will see you tomorrow morning for a fun Monday Morning breakfast. Clue: It looks sorta like a cupcake but is much healthier and made with fruit. Any guesses?
Are you making a tar? Not sure going to have to wait for that one. I do love those pictures of the hike.
I have prepared eggplant once and hated it! These might be worth a try. And I love how you used them like little tacos :)
Those little tomatoes may be the cutest things I have ever seen!
I love how thin you cut the eggplant! It looks awesome!!!!
I have given up on eggplant – I kept buying it and throwing it out…tried grilling it and frying it with other vegetables before – but it tasted bland…and bitter almost. Pungent. Meh. Were not meant to be I suppose. Doctored up with cheese and salsa – sure I can eat it…but I can eat anything with those ingredients anyways! :)
What a pretty day to be out and about. I’m excited to do some more hiking this fall when it’s not quite as steamy here. ;)
Eggplant is wonderful steamed, then sauced. I got the technique from a Chinese cookbook. Tastes stir-fried but without the oil. This id off-topic but I had to share it. I made your chewy gluten free crackers today then promptly dropped some on the floor. Unwilling to throw out my yummy crackers I rinsed the dropped ones and put them back in the oven. OMG they crisped up and taste just like Mary’s gone crackers.
*is* not id.
Now i”m totally craving guacamole – just might have to go make some!
I love the hiking pics. I would kill for great hiking trails here!
Your hike looks like it was so gorgeous! You guys are so lucky to live near such beautiful places to hike, run, ride and swim :)
I just have to say that I am really enjoying your blog. I love the recipes you come up wth using the eggplant as little burritos for the guacamole is totally something I would do (and prob will now), though I would get funny looks from my husband for doing it! Your photography is beautiful too! I can’t wait to find out what you make for breakfast!
Love the pictures! Very Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Beautiful pictures- I went on a hike yesterday, it’s just the perfect weather for hiking right now! Love it.
you’re making muffins!?!?!?!?!
That salsa looks so refreshing and delicious! Think I’ll be making guacamole tomorrow night. :)
Looks like a beautiful hike; where did you go?
I find I am hit or miss with eggplant…some time it is bland and has funny texture, other times it is perfectly awesome.
I know my farmers market baby yellow tomatoes have been as sweet as candy–look like your are too! We just keep a bowl of them on the counter for munching on, like you would grapes or something!
Eggplant is one of those things I wished I liked….maybe I just haven’t had it the ‘right’ way yet??
Looks like a fun day! I’m super excited for Fall weather. Can’t wait to go hiking!
That salsa looks great! There’s something so summer about your salsa. It’s so bright and colorful. You’re right. We do have to appreciate the remaining days of heat before summer turns to autumn which will eventually turn to a cold, cold winter.
What a cute shirt! If I didn’t eat meat and was anything close to being an athlete, I would so have that shirt. Haha!
Your breakfast sounds veeeeeeeery interesting… the fact that you’re telling us now means that it could be overnight? Hmm. I’m not sure. Those eggplant chips sound AMAZING. Could you make them with any other veggies?
i only started eating egg plants this year. I had never had egg plants since i was born. I thought my family was allergic to them and mum never bought them before lol.