FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS

Today my mom surprised me with one of my favorite dishes. Let me just say, you haven't lived until you've had my mom's eggplant! Not your traditional baked eggplant parmigiana, but more like fried eggplant medallions with a dollop of fresh marinara, just the right amount of fresh basil, garlic and cheese. Growing up, this was a must have for all our holiday meals. A platter much larger than this would be picked over before ever making it to the dinner table. The thrill of stealing one of those medallions from under Mamina's nose made it all the more decadent. No forks here! Folding it up like a little pizza wedge and eating it with your hands only made it taste better. We had to be careful to not eat all of it... because as with most Italian food it tastes even better the next day (for breakfast no less)... COLD! Quietly opening the fridge, being taken in by that wonderful garlic smell... we would slip our hands under the foil trying not to make too much noise to keep from getting caught... because it wasn't right eating straight from the fridge... Mmm Mmmmm!

My mother turns 82 in a week and she isn't in the best of health. She doesn't cook like she use to... as matter of fact... she doesn't cook at all. Some might say she has lost her touch, but there is no doubt that when it comes to her eggplant... SHE STILL HAS IT!