Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

Eggplant Sauce

Written by Patti on January 25th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

E and I have been trying to eat healthier in 2010, with pretty good results.  Fresh fruit every morning and more veggies every day.  To make it more fun, I came up with this meatless pasta (or pizza or whatever…) sauce substituting the eggplant for meat. It turned out pretty well and even made an encore appearance in the meal we made last night.  Here’s what I did.

Patti’s Eggplant Sauce

1 large eggplant
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour, seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 small can tomato paste
1 can of tomato puree
1 bottle of red wine
Red pepper flakes to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 onion, minced
Water to thin sauce

Peel eggplant and cut into 1/2″ cubes (it doesn’t need to be precise)
Place colander over sink and put eggplant in, cover with salt for 30 mins to an hour (this will keep the eggplant from getting watery) – Do not skip this step, please
Rinse eggplant after appropriate time has passed
Place beaten eggs in large bowl
Place seasoned flour in another large bowl
In batches, first place eggplant in beaten egg and then in seasoned flour
Heat large skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat
When oil is heated (flick a drop of water over oil, if it “dances” it is ready)
Gently place egged and floured eggplant into oil and cook until brown, remembering to turn when first side is done
Drain fried eggplant on paper towels
Continue until all eggplant is fried

Now for the sauce:
Saute onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons oil
Add fried eggplant (reserve a few to top dish before serving – thanks, Lisa!)
Add wine, tomato paste and tomato puree
Bring to a boil and immediately drop heat to a simmer
Add red pepper flakes to taste
Allow to simmer for at least an hour (add water if sauce is looking too thick)
Enjoy as a topping for your favorite pasta (we used fusilli)

Pretty easy, huh? Here is a pictorial for your viewing pleasure.

Eggplant - Cubed, Salted and Draining

Eggplant - Cubed, Salted and Draining

Beaten Eggs and Seasoned Flour

Beaten Eggs and Seasoned Flour

Frying The Eggplant

Frying The Eggplant

Yummy Fried Eggplant!

Yummy Fried Eggplant!

Bubbling Eggplant Sauce

Bubbling Eggplant Sauce

I have all kinds of treats in store for you this week. Stay tuned and Happy Monday!

xoxo, Patti

 

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Darling Eddie and the NY Bully

Written by Patti on January 25th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Remember our good friend, Eddie Ross? Well, it seems that a fellow contestant for the Bloomingdale’s window design competition is trying to bulldozer them.  And we just cannot have that, now, can we? Our sweet, genteel gentleman friend will not be surpassed by this media bully.

Could you all be so sweet as to pop over to Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge and vote? Do it online here and by texting 1 to 89800. Thank you, everyone! Eddie + Jaithan appreciate your help immensely! It’s a bit of doing to get registered, but once registered, you can vote twice per day.

Eddie + Jaithan's Fab Fab Fab Window!

Eddie + Jaithan's Fab Fab Fab Window!

And I promise, after you do that, I will have a fresh new post waiting for you this afternoon. Pinky swear.

xoxo, Patti

 

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Hazelnut Marshmallows

Written by Patti on January 23rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

With Sugar Coma, the Macaron Class and Dave & Sue’s cookies, you would think I would be all sugared out. But apparently that is not the case.  Yesterday I had a hankerin’ to make some hazelnut marshmallows.  Taruan and I have been discussing this for weeks, so I thought I would go ahead and make them. And tell you about them, too, of course!

More Marshmallow Fun After The Fold

 

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Going To The Super H and We’re Gonna Make Sushi!

Written by Patti on January 22nd, 2010

(sung to the tune, “Going To The Chapel”…)

Good Morning, Darlings!

If you know me well in real life, you will know that I am a Super H devotee. I adore the Super H Market.  Google it and see if  you have one near you.  It is an Asian supermarket and their produce, meats and seafood departments will blow you away.  And those prices! Crazy insane cheap.  You could shop here for a week and not spend $50. Or you could spend more – it’s all up to you.

See How The Sushi Came Out

 

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Golden Globes With The Gang

Written by Patti on January 21st, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I’ve shared Sugar Coma with you and the macaron class on Sunday.  My thought was, heck, the house is clean – lets give a Golden Globes party for our besties after all the guests from  the macaron class go home. Made sense to me. And we had missed giving our New Year’s Day pajama party because we were both ill…so lets make it a Golden Globes Pajama Party! Whoo Whee!

More Award Party After The Fold

 

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A Merry Macaron Party With Tartlette

Written by Patti on January 20th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I like to consider myself fairly well traveled, but my knowledge of the French macaron is next to nil. In my mind, macarons are delightful coconut confections, preferably sold by Godiva. This past Sunday I received quite the education.

More French Culture After The Fold

 

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This was SUGAR COMA!

Written by Patti on January 19th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I know I have been a bit incommunicado lately, but I have been so darn busy! This weekend Eric and I kicked off Friday with a very quiet evening for just the two of us. Saturday was an up and at ’em kind of day busy with Sugar Coma, the first of many event-based soirees planned and executed by my friend, Shameeka, also known as The Broke Socialite, and the “Gail to her Oprah”, the adorable Denise. We had to be at the site by 8:30 a.m., and if you didn’t know, we are not really early riser types. But this was also Holly’s birthday, so it was well worth it. Chioke and Taruan picked us up by 8 a.m. and we were off. Sleepy, but on our way.

For More Sweet Stories, Click Here

 

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French Onion Soup

Written by Patti on January 15th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This past week we were craving comfort food that was a bit more sophisticated. I felt that onion soup would be just right. And easy, too. Except for the fact that I baked my own bread for the top of the soup (there are plenty of gorgeous loaves of bread out there to buy), this came together in a snap.

Soup Recipe After The Fold

 

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Playoff Cuisine

Written by Patti on January 14th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

If you are a lover of football, you must be in your glory, with all the playoff games every weekend.  Although the college season is over (sad goodbyes to Tim Tebow and Bobby Bowden), I reluctantly move my interest to the pro teams.  Mainly for the food.  Football party food is the greatest, right after funeral food. At least here in the south….

Ready For Some Football – Right After The Fold

 

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Just Dance (Party)

Written by Patti on January 13th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Listening to Lady GaGa while writing this post. Still reeling from her amazing concert on 12/28. So, when I saw an ad for a new Wii game, “Just Dance“, I knew this would make for a great party evening.

With the snow keeping the majority of our neighbors inside recently, I decided to make a few calls last Friday and invite a few buddies to come by, and, well, just dance.

More Dance Party After The Fold

This game is hilarious. Not only is it a blast to play, but even more fun to watch.  There were six of us gathered at our house around 9pm and the fun started.  Taruan, Chioke, Eric and I took to the living room floor and got moving. I believe we started with “Hot and Cold” by Katy Perry.  You just follow the dancer on the screen and do what they do. This sounds so much easier than it is.  But in no time, Taruan, The Dance King, was killing. He was trouncing all over everyone. He could not be beat. Val and Jay joined us a bit later and the party was in full swing.

Taruan, The Dance King
Taruan, The Dance King
Chioke Challenges Taruan
Chioke Challenges Taruan
Chioke and Karen Take A Break
Chioke and Karen Take A Break
Twix Break!
Twix Break!

All that dancing works up an appetite, so I pulled out the homemade twix bars I had made the night before and they were devoured. Time to mix a few adult beverages and back to the dance floor.

We didn’t stop until 2am, when I decided to whip up some biscuits and sausage gravy. Not everyone eats pork, so I put out some raspberry/jalapeno jelly and the beloved honey bear. Chioke had the grand idea to slather the biscuits first with the jelly and then the sausage gravy.  Across the table I asked him how he came up with the idea – “Greed,” was all Chioke said, with an evil little smile.

If you had tasted it, you would agree that a little greed can be a very good thing indeed.

 

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