Ratatouille!!!

Inspired  by a giant eggplant in today's CSA box, I've decided to make ratatouille! (I have absolutely no idea why I insist of following every mention of it with an exclamation point).  My mother often made the dish for me when I was but a little girl and I have had a deep affection for it ever since.  Most recently I have fallen head over heels with the animated picture bearing the name.  I have watched it 3 times and  I absolutely swoon with pleasure just thinking of it. And yes, I am a nerd.   But a tiny adorable mouse in Paris cooking french food with the eiffel tower as a backdrop? Sign me up please.  And without further ado, may I present my recipe for rat-tat-touille! 

-1 onion

-1 eggplant

-2 cloves garlic

-1 zucchini

-1 bell pepper

-3-4 tomatoes

-a dash of fennel seed

-salt

-fresh basil

-olive oil (about 1/2 cup)

1.  Chop and salt the eggplant and place in a colander to drain (I left it for about 15 minutes. Half the onion and slice thinly.  Saute the onion with olive oil and chopped garlic on low for about 5 minutes.  Add the eggplant and cook for another 10 minutes.

2.  Add the rest of the ingredients (chopped to your preference) and cook for about 45 minutes. There was a bit too much liquid in mine for my preference so I did have to cook it for quite a while.  Depending on whether you prefer it thicker or with more broth, you can choose to cover or not.  Add the basil when you are happy with the consistancy  and allow to cook for a couple more minutes until the basil is wilted.  Salt to taste and voila, your very own ratatouille! (Little chef not included)

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I am serving mine over penne this evening and I intend to drown some fried eggs in the leftovers tomorrow.  

p.s. I guess I should have salted and drained the zucchini as well.  Oops.

-nora