recipe time!

I bought a couple of small eggplants at the market last week and came up with this quick and super-easy recipe for a curried eggplant dish. Total cooking time including prep: 30minutes..move over Rachael Ray!

Curried Eggplant:

(serves 2)

1 large or 2 small eggplants

1 medium onion

2tbsp. olive oil

1 cup chicken broth

1tbsp. curry powder

1/4 cup raisins

1 cup couscous (or rice)

Cut off the top of the eggplant(s) and cut the remainder into 1" cubes. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Toss the eggplant in to get it started.

Chop onion and throw that into the skillet. Let the two sautee together until the onion is clear and the eggplant is tender (7-10 minutes).

Next toss in the raisins and the curry powder and sautee for 1-2 minutes. Add half of the chicken broth to start to create a simmering sauce.

Prepare 1 cup of couscous or any type of rice as directed on the package.

While the couscous or rice is cooking, continue stirring the eggpant mixture and add the remainder of the broth gradually.

Serve the curried eggplant mixture over couscous or rice and you're done!

Lunch Eats Under $5 At The Market!

Feeling guilty about the $9-$15 lunches you've been buying lately? Well, for those of you who work in offices in Ballston, you should DEFINITELY check out the Friday lunchtime offerings at the Ballston Farmer's Market in Welburn Square.

Rounding the circle of vendors you can find a wide array of lunch items:

-at Grace's Pastries, pick up a freshly baked empanada filled with chicken or veggies (rice, kale, tomatoes, spices) for $2.50 each. Or pick up a gigantic slice of freshly baked focaccia (tomatoes, spinach, onion + peppers) for $3

-The European Gourmet Bakery offers filled croissants (ham or turkey+cheese) and savory
vegetable tortes in the $2-$4 range. They also sell fresh baked cookies and sweets for about $1

-Grab a loaf of bread from Great Harvest, and some olive tapenade from Dick's Kitchen for a more picnic-y type of feast with friends.

-Round out your meal by picking up a fresh peach, apple or other fruit from either of our two farm stands.

-thirsty? the small deli on the plaza sells bottled water for $1 a pop post-tax (a rarity these days!), or for a post-lunch jolt, sample a small cup of Hondo Coffee and pick up a bag to take home for those lazy weekend mornings.

So, this Friday when you're heading out for yet another $10 salad, think different. Enjoy the nice weather, free live music and some healthy (and cheap!) eats in Welburn Square.

(Fridays from 11am-3pm through October)