Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan paid a visit to the City of Clarksville’s Downtown Market yesterday, where she joined with Samantha Maselli the creator of Cooking with Kids to give a demonstration of how to prepare eggplant Parmesan, using locally grown produce and other ingredients acquired at the Downtown Market.
Cooking with the Mayor is the latest in a monthly series of fitness-related events, featuring the Mayor as she participates in various activities to help people begin or enhance an active and healthy lifestyle. The event was a part of the newly created Mayor’s Fitness Council initiative.
Maselli recommends treating cooking as a family activity because, “When my children participate in the cooking, they seem much more interested in eating it.”
The Eggplants used in the cooking presentation came from the booth of Dean Griffy. who has been in involved in growing produce pretty much all of his life. He was vocal in his praise for locally grown produce.
The Mayor’s Fitness Council was created by the Clarksville City Council on July 7th with the goal of helping Clarksvillians take a pro-active, multi-faceted approach to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle via education, increasing physical activities, and following proper nutrition. The Mayor’s Fitness Council will also bring together various groups, organizations and agencies that promote health and fitness in our community to create a more consolidated effort and approach to address the challenges.
Mayor McMillan spoke with Clarksville Online for a few minutes following her demonstration.
On September 22nd, at 5:30pm , the Fitness Council will hold an organizational meeting at William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza. The members will hear Mayor McMillan’s vision for the Council. Rick Canada, director of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity for the Tennessee Department of Health, will be the guest speaker.
Photo Gallery
About the Egg plant
Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family and is native to India. The early varieties were bitter, but cultivation and crossbreeding have greatly improved the flavor. Eggplant is related to potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.
Eggplant isn’t a particularly popular vegetable in the United States, but it’s a favorite in many areas of the South. Thomas Jefferson, who experimented with many varieties of plants in his Virginia garden, is credited with introducing eggplant to North America.
Varieties
The dark purple eggplants are the most common type sold commercially in the United States. They weigh about 1 to 5 pounds each and come in two shapes: oval and elongated. The elongated variety is often referred to as the Japanese or oriental eggplant.
Specialty varieties include miniature eggplants that come in a variety of colors and shapes.
- Deep purple, round or oval eggplants are often nicknamed Italian or baby eggplants.
- Pale violet eggplant, usually slim and light, is nicknamed Chinese eggplant.
- Violet-white are Italian rosa biancos
- Japanese eggplants are younger versions of the large commercial purple type.
Availability
Eggplants are available all year. Their peak growing season in the United States is from July to October.
Selection
Look for a symmetrical eggplant with smooth, uniformly colored skin. Tan patches, scars, or bruises indicate decay. Also avoid eggplants with wrinkled or flabby-looking skin. Oversized purple eggplants, usually over 6 inches in diameter, may be tough and bitter.
When you press gently on an eggplant, the finger mark will disappear quickly if the eggplant is fresh. Eggplant should feel heavy; one that feels light for its size may not have a good flavor. The stem and cap should be bright green.
Storage
Both cold and warm temperatures can damage eggplant. It is best to store eggplant uncut and unwashed in a plastic bag in the cooler section of the refrigerator. Do not force the eggplant into the crisper if it is too big, as this will bruise the vegetable. Eggplant may be blanched or steamed then frozen for up to 6 months.
Preparation
Wash the eggplant just before using it, and cut off the cap and stem. Use a stainless steel knife because carbon blades will discolor the eggplant. Eggplant should not be eaten raw. Eggplant may be cooked with or without its skin. However, large eggplant and most white varieties have thick, tough skin and should be peeled prior to cooking with a vegetable peeler.
Unlike many vegetables, eggplant is not harmed by long cooking. An undercooked eggplant can have a chewy texture; but overcooked eggplant is just very soft. Do not cook in an aluminum pot because the eggplant will become discolored.
Spices that enhance its flavor include allspice, basil, bay leaves, garlic, chili powder, oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram, and parsley. Eggplant is most often paired with tomatoes or onions.
Baking: To bake a whole eggplant, pierce the skin with a fork several times, and cook it at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Baking whole eggplants produces a soft flesh that is easy to mash or puree.
Broiling: Cut the eggplant into thick lengthwise slices, and score them lightly with a sharp knife. Place the slices on a broiler pan or grill; brush them lightly with oil. Broil about 5 inches from the heat, and turn slices when they begin to brown. Eggplant should be cooked for approximately 5 minutes per side.
Microwaving: Eggplant may also be microwaved whole, cubed, or sliced. Cooking times vary from 6 to 8 minutes for a whole eggplant to 3 or 4 minutes for a pound of cubed eggplant.
Stewed eggplant is called ratatouille. For this dish, eggplant may be stewed alone, or with other vegetables. Simmer, covered with a liquid such as tomato juice, until the eggplant is tender. The cooking time is usually 20 to 25 minutes.
Recipe for Stuffed Eggplant
This dish makes 4 servings. Each serving equals 2 cups of fruit or vegetables
Ingredients
- 1½ cups bread crumbs
- 2 eggplants
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1/3 cup celery, diced
- 1/8 Tbsp. salt
- ¼ Tbsp. black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
- 2 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
- Vegetable cooking spray
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut eggplants in half lengthwise. Scoop out and save the flesh, leaving the shells 3/8-inch thick. If necessary, trim a small piece off the bottom of each shell so it won’t tip over. Set aside.
- Coat large skillet with vegetable cooking spray. Chop up reserved eggplant and add to skillet. Add tomato, bell pepper, onion, celery, salt, and black pepper. Place skillet over medium heat; cover and cook about 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in bread crumbs and parsley. Spoon mixture into the hollow eggplant shells.
- Arrange stuffed shells in a shallow baking dish coated with vegetable spray. Sprinkle 1½ tsps Parmesan on top of each shell. Bake for 25 minutes, until filling heats through and top is golden brown.
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 269, Fat 3g, Calories from Fat 10%, Protein 9g, Carbohydrates 52g, Cholesterol 1mg, Fiber 9g, Sodium 419mg.
Editor’s Note: Stuffed Eggplant image from Whisk, A food blog; they have another delicious recipe for eggplant.
