Summer is certainly over, but it doesn’t mean its bounty is. I’m still up to my eyeballs in eggplant, mostly due to my overly eager mom (she goes crazy when I bring her to my CSA and just can’t help herself.) This past Saturday we spent a few hours snipping some of the most breathtaking arugula, tatsoi and mustards I’ve ever seen. A few last tomatoes held tight to the vine, while the peppers exploded everywhere. Kale and cabbage abounded, as expected. But the eggplant! What a delightful treat. Now despite the color synonymous with its name, eggplant is certainly not limited to one color or variety. Japanese, Italian, Chinese, white and zebra eggplants range in length, width and color. Some slightly firmer and others a tad more tender, some deep purple, some striped, some even white, but all delicious. By far are the cutest are the fairytale eggplant, shown above. Luckily for us, we don’t need to be living in a fairytale to enjoy them.
And for a smile: 
THE GASTRONERD 