eggplant

Whether you're trying to incorporate more vegetables in your diet or cut down your grocery bill, replacing meat a couple nights a week can help you accomplish both goals. Here are three inexpensive meat substitutes that don't include the often-polarizing tofu.

1. Eggplant: This purple veggie has a solid, meaty texture compared to other vegetables and is a tasty centerpiece for dishes like baked eggplant parmesan or a complement to stir-fry and pasta recipes. Eggplant is nutritious to boot, packing in fiber, antioxidants, B vitamins, and potassium.

To see two more meat substitutes, read more

In German, schnitzel is the word for "cutlet" and the culinary technique usually refers to an ingredient that has been breaded. In this vegetarian variation, thick eggplant slices and meaty portobello mushrooms are dipped in egg and breadcrumbs. Instead of the usual fatty pan-frying, the veggies are baked until brown and crisp in the oven. A delightfully simple lemon-caper butter sauce makes this dish elegant enough for entertaining.

Look at the recipe when you read more

When dealing with Thanksgiving leftovers, sandwiches are an obvious choice — and believe me, I consumed my fair share of turkey and stuffing on wheat bread last week. But in a more unexpected repurposing, I also used the breadcrumb mixture leftover from my New Orleans-style baked oyster dish to make this twist on a grilled cheese.

In this case, the "bread" is actually sliced eggplant coated with breadcrumbs, and the cheese is provolone (though mozzarella would also be good with a marinara dipping sauce on the side). I can't say this recipe is any healthier than a typical grilled cheese, since the bread crumb mixture is made with butter, but it is a creative take on a classic for all you grilled cheese fans.

What's cool is that the golden-browned breadcrumbs take on both the look and flavor of grilled, buttered bread, and the skins of the eggplant slices resemble bread crust. The breadcrumb mixture is easy to make, even for a weeknight supper. To get the recipe and step-by-step photos, read more

• During times of economic hardship, familiar American desserts can be a sweet comfort. — San Francisco Chronicle
• What role do tannins play in wine? — Washington Post
• Food review site Yelp has become an online force to be recognized. — New York Times
• Cozy up to those many exotic varieties of Winter squash. — The Oregonian
• For a speedy and inexpensive crowd-pleaser, make dinner Eggplant Parmesan pie. — Boston Globe
• Select white wines to stand up to any chowder. — Chicago Tribune
• A devastating blight wiped out American chestnuts, but now they're making a comeback. — Los Angeles Times
• General Mills has issued a recall of Progresso Hearty Tomato Soup. — Food & Drug Administration

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Whenever I take a trip to the store, a couple of items that aren't on my grocery list make their way into my cart. When I spotted a California-raised lamb shoulder at the meat counter, I couldn't stop myself from sliding it into the shopping cart.

I was eager to experiment with lamb because of a recent disappointing experience with imported Australian lamb. Ironically, I found an Australian recipe that I decided to try. If I made it with a local piece of meat, the dish might taste better.

And taste better it did! The lamb is filled with a rich stuffing of eggplant, onions, bell pepper, wine-soaked dried currants, and toasted pine nuts. The bold flavor of the lamb balances out the sweetness of the stuffing and the bitterness of the chard resulting in a dish that is succulent and scrumptious. To try this rewarding lamb dish, read more

The other day I was thrilled to spot Japanese eggplant at the farmers market. In case you don't know the distinction from the American globe eggplant commonly found at the store, Japanese eggplant has a thinner skin and a sweet, delicate flavor. Like most eggplant, it grows in season from July to October. To find out what to look for, read more

Even as a child I appreciated the beauty of eggplant; it was the taste I didn't care for. Things have changed though, and I have learned to love this veggie. Considered unglamorous by many, eggplant is making a comeback. It is part of the increasingly popular Mediterranean diet in the pureed form of baba ghanoush or simply grilled with other veggies.

Because of its rare deep purple coloring, eggplant is high in some hard to find antioxidants. One of those being the phytonutrient nasunin, which protects brain cells and the other being chlorogenic acid, a powerful scavenger of disease causing free radical. But don't skip the skin when eating this nightshade because the skin is where these valuable micronutrients are found. Eggplant is also high in B vitamins as well as potassium. This veggie is also a good source of fiber, and a low calorie food as well. I would avoid frying eggplant however, because it will soak up copious amount of oil, transforming quickly into a high calorie food.

Eggplant is in season now through October. Not only is it good grilled or roasted, it is great in curries too. I like to use it grilled in eggplant stacks with basil and fresh mozzarella, and YumSugar has many recipes for you to experiment with eggplant.

Do you love eggplant, or do you hate it? Tell me in the comments section below.

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I love finding new ways to use seasonal produce, and lately, the tomatoes here — especially the multicolored heirloom varieties — have been irresistible. One of the best ways to feature fabulous tomatoes is in a classic caprese salad made with mozzarella cheese and basil. Since I found some good-looking basil and eggplant at the farmers market, I decided to try this variation.

To make the dish healthier, I used part-skim mozzarella, and instead of beefsteak tomatoes, I used heirlooms. Though this recipe is designed to yield two appetizer servings, I just ate the two eggplant stacks for dinner with nothing else. It was plenty filling and a great way to work fresh veggies into mealtime. To get the recipe, read more

Although jarred roasted red peppers are readily available in grocery stores, I find the flavor of fresh roasted peppers superior to their supermarket counterparts. During the Summer, take advantage of the grill and char them over the fire. The grill will impart a subtle smokiness that is hard to mimic in mass produced variations. When combined with grilled eggplants, the peppers make a delicious and filling salad.

Packed with plenty of fresh herbs, this vegetarian dish is a wonderful way to use up the bounty of a Summer harvest. To look at the recipe, read more