Mmm, eggplant. I always made what my kids refer to as Rat (ratatouille) when I had a bunch of eggplant to use up. Saute in olive oil any or all of: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, plus the basis is onion and garlic which I usually add to the olive oil first and stir-fry to flavor the oil. Mushrooms are a great addition too, if you like.

Keeps beautifully in the freezer and is such a yummy side dish or a vegetarian meal with some rice.

Sounds interesting!

mandolls said:
I haven't made it outside to check closely, 40's and rainy is not my favorite gardening weather!

Nor mine -- and that's what we had today, too... so I went grocery shopping instead! Supposed to be dry for the next few days at least, and no frost predicted for us, so maybe I can actually get something done outside!

Every year I mean to make ratatouille ! (and so far I still haven't...) (Ditto for gazpacho -- does anyone make that?)

I was quite surprised how good ratatouille was. I am always suspicious of non-meat dishes unless it is potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, cheese etc.

Ratatiulle is good - its been a while since I made it. I made a big batch of Baba Ghanoush with the last of my eggplant - I put in to much garlic, but ………..I do like garlic!

Last year I sliced up a bunch of eggplant, grilled them and froze them, then used them for (non-breaded) eggplant parm. through the winter.

Most of the peppers I harvested are Anaheim types (Sahuaro). I'll make a batch of them stuffed with black beans and rice (with cream cheese/cilantro/cumin/tomatoes/hot peppers/ and sharp cheddar). I haven't tried freezing them that way, but I may give it a try.

I haven't made gazpacho in years! I used to love it, and its easy to make. I think of it as strictly hot weather food though so it may need to wait until next year. Though I did find one last cucumber when I harvested the other day so maybe I'll make a small batch.

This post is making me hungry!!

I think I'm going to try a batch of ratatouille today if I get time. Although, I forgot to harvest a bunch of basel before it froze last night. I have been thinking about grilling the rest of the egg plant for freezing. Glad to hear it works, I wasn't sure if it would get soggy after freezing.

Geof, those peppers sound wonderful. Any you would share that recipe?

Karen - I don't really use recipes. So I don't have any measurements to give you. I tend to google an idea, read lots of recipes for inspiration, and then just start. Especially when I am using stuff from the garden, I never have the same amount (usually way more) as the recipes call for, so I have to wing it anyway to some extent.

When I was a college student, I remember asking my Grandmother for a recipe, and she sent me a list of ingredients………I was a little baffled, but I figured it out, and haven't really worried about them since (except for baking)

Geof, I'm that way too. Today I read a bunch of recipes for ratatouille, then I just threw it together, and added some hot peppers to the mix and it turned out great. Next time I make it, I'm not going to put in as much Basel and a bit more garlic. It tasted good with a couple slices of cheese.

Tom, so glad you like the Rat, and sad to hear your basil froze last night! Sounds like you did get some harvested beforehand?

Did you know you can start new plants from cuttings of basil and keep them going on a sunny windowsill through winter? If you just put your extra basil cuttings in a jar or glass of water they will have roots inside of a week.

dyzzypyxxy said:
Did you know you can start new plants from cuttings of basil and keep them going on a sunny windowsill through winter? If you just put your extra basil cuttings in a jar or glass of water they will have roots inside of a week.

I'm not Tom but I didn't know that! Drats, I already cut my basil down and can't try it.

Start some seeds? What a shame you cut them down, Rita. Oh, also sometimes stores like Whole Foods have potted herbs for sale.

If we have cold weather threatening (anything below 40 counts as "cold" here) I take lots of cuttings of my basil and bring it in just in case.

dyzzypyxxy said:Start some seeds? What a shame you cut them down, Rita. Oh, also sometimes stores like Whole Foods have potted herbs for sale.

If we have cold weather threatening (anything below 40 counts as "cold" here) I take lots of cuttings of my basil and bring it in just in case.

I cut them because they looked pretty ratty and I figured that was gonna be it for the year. Don't want to try to start seeds and no plants around to buy now. I don't need it, I just figured I would try taking the cuttings as nothing to loose but too late. But now I know for next fall!

This weekend I planted pretty much all my red cabbage, kale, and broccoli. This morning mother nature had other ideas and came through with hail. Haven't been home yet but the hubby said that my tomatoes, peppers, and beans look fine but my baby plants look pulverized

Oh dear!

My garden here is almost done. Yesterday picked three zucchini which is the last of them I am sure. Tomatoes are also really struggling with the cold and I will pull the plants soon. Strangely the pepper plants are still doing really well.

SCurtis -- what a bummer about the hail! We've been fortunate not to have any for several years now, but many times have had hail storms in the middle of summer, just when the garden was looking its best.. I guess the good news is that since you had just planted, you can still go ahead and replant... (not exactly great news, but...)

We finally (!) had a nice sunny day here, after at least a week of rainy, cold, gloomy weather. Took care of a lot of weeds that have been popping up in the time that I couldn't get out in the garden, and pulled out the cukes and a few of the tomato plants that were totally dead. The whole week is supposed to be dry so I should be able to get lots taken care of in the garden and around the yard; today made me remember why I love fall so much!!

I'm going to pull my tomato plants hopefully this week there's still some maters on it but i think it'll be better if they ripen in the windowsill. My lil plants are toast a few cabbage might have made it but all the broccoli, kohlrabi, and kale are gone. Guess I'm going to be ordering some pre grown plants from burpee? I'm not sure who else I can get fall plants from went to the local places around town and it's all mums and pumpkins. One place had kale but it was ornamental, who wants ornamental kale???? Anyway, hail like that probably only comes once every 3 yearsish so if I have 3 years of clear I guess this was the time to hail. Guess if all else fails I can just plant my garlic, turnips, spinach, corn salad and kohlrabi and call it a day. I bet my garden would love a winter growing red clover.

Silly question for everyone, can I grow red clover on top of my perennials? I trimmed back my bee balm and about to trim back my asparagus can I plant on top of that or should I just mulch? I also have some artichoke and rhubarb I planted this year, I heard to put green compost on top then mulch is that correct?

Lastly, I made hot sauce last night with my peppers that finally grew this year I also grew a few habanaros so it's extra spicy.

Nice looking hot sauce. What are you going to do with all that sauce?

Give it out for Christmas presents, I already have 3 people impatiently waiting for their bottle for the year.