Recipes are hard to come by, because low-sodium doesn’t always mean low-sodium. So I have to improvise sometimes. This recipe is something Giada DeLaurentis did, but I had to tweak some things to eliminate the sodium that had been added in hers.

Eggplant Puree Pasta

1 small eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pint cherry tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, whole
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
1 pound rigatoni pasta (or other pasta of your choice)
1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Glug of balsamic or red wine vinegar or freshly-squeezed lemon juice (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Spread the vegetables out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the vegetables are tender and the eggplant is golden, about 35 minutes.

While the vegetables are roasting, place the pine nuts in a small baking dish. Place in the oven on the rack below the vegetables. Roast until golden, about 8 4 minutes (only do it for 8 if you want them nice and burnt, which I liked). Remove from the oven and reserve.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl and reserve (at least) 2 cups of the cooking liquid.

Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor. Add the torn mint leaves and extra-virgin olive oil. Puree the vegetables.

Transfer the pureed vegetables to the bowl with the pasta and add the Parmesan. Stir to combine, adding the pasta cooking liquid 1/2 cup at a time until the pasta is saucy, as well as a glug of vinegar (optional). Sprinkle the pine nuts over the top and serve.

I loved it. The PoBoy loved it. I am so making this again. YUM!

I have used the free time to read books I’ve wanted to read and write a little more on my novel. You would think I would have spent more time on my blog, but amazingly after a day of staring at applications and filling them out over and over again… not so much.

As I’ve said, I’ve been reading more books lately. One I just finished is “Feminism and Pop Culture” by Andi Zeisler. I recommend it for anyone who thinks women have come a long way. Because let me tell you, I thought we had but this book opened my eyes.

Thank you, Andi Zeisler.

Then I come to work for like two days and there’s a company-wide closing. I’m laid off. I have no job. It didn’t hit me until after the weekend, on Monday morning. I started going through the motions of going to work only to realize… there was no work to go to.

So the last week I have been on a job applying blitz. I’ve applied everywhere from Canada, California to England and states in between. I’m going cross-eyed. The panic has begun to set in though, and the self esteem is crashing.

Especially when I read in Folio that a third party source mentioned that it was possible that the company never planned to sell the titles it closed.

Sigh. What a crushing truth.

Please read and share with your friends. Lets bring justice for Phoebe Prince.

Justice for Phoebe Prince – Washington Post

Number one on my list – STOP BITING YOUR NAILS.

I’ve tried to quit numerous times and have been successful every now then. I’ll last about three months with beautiful nails then one will break and suddenly I bite them all off. It’s digusting. I know. I always ask myself why the fuck I do it.

So with a purple rubber band around my wrist I am on day two. Any time I get the urge, I snap that band. I don’t do a tiny snap, that doesn’t deter anyone. I’m talking slingshot snap, okay? And it hurts. But it’s working so far.

*snap*