What could EGGPLANT possibly have to do with CONFIDENCE? Stay with me …. since we’re beginning a focus on REAL CONFIDENCE, I had to share Eggplant Parmesan for Tasty Tuesday. I also think it will be fun to share what the Lord taught me about CONFIDENCE throughout July by taking through “my travels” of the month. It’s like a post card tour with a purpose. 
😉
I never had any desire to eat eggplant, let alone cook it or (far worse) serve it to people at my table. It’s so …. dark and shiny, like something you would play with at the beach. 🙂 But … then I went to Athens, Greece to be with two families we partner with in ministry. We saw their ministry at the Cosmovision Center, but we also enjoyed them personally. They were truly used by the Lord to teach me about CONFIDENCE (they don’t even know this), and it first shows in Eggplant Parmesan. First I’ll show you how I made it last night, and then I’ll tell you what it could possibly have to do with CONFIDENCE.
I bought one eggplant at the farmer’s market and one at the grocery store. Looked the same, but the one from the market actually had a tougher skin. Hmm?
I peeled the dark skin off and cut them into fairly thick slabs. Then I dipped each slab individually into beaten egg and then Italian bread crumbs.
While I did that, I heated a non-stick pan with olive oil in it. I laid the eggplant in a single layer in the pan and let them brown until slightly crispy on each side, about 3-4 minutes.
I then laid
all of the browned eggplant in a glass 9×11 dish that I had sprayed with cooking spray. I spread spaghetti sauce (Hunt’s 4 Cheese) over them, and then I added another layer of browned eggplant and sauce.
Finally, I covered the whole thing with mozzarella cheese and them shredded Parmesan cheese. I baked it in a 350 degree oven for about 50 minutes, until it was slightly browned.
My family loved it (ok – most of them), and the neighbors across the street did too. 🙂 I was shocked. But I only made it because of Mary Romeos. Each night in Greece we ate dinner LATE, when it was dark and breezy, usually on the balcony o
f the Romeos’ home. Family is so important in Greek culture. Mary served a beautiful Eggplant Parmesan our first night; it was so beautiful and aromatic (and we were guests), so we tried it.
We loved it, and Mary told me the easy steps to putting one together. Mary’s example and her personal explanation encouraged and equipped me to try something new and step out of my food comfort zone. But it isn’t “just about eggplant.” It’s about women teaching other women and sowing healthy confidence into our lives and homes.
The Lord highlighted this truth from His Word: older women teaching younger women about the things of life and family, building a healthy confidence in being more of the women God wants us to be. That was the CONFIDENCE of Cosmovision. You can read the Biblical principle in Titus 2:3-5 here. But if you make a batch of Eggplant Parmesan, I guarantee you’ll remember it better. 😉
Thanks to Jen and Lisa for hosting Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!
I loved this post, Julie! The eggplant parm is lovely and your application is divine. Thank you! Love U, Jenny C.
I love eggplant parmesan!! 😀 YUM! Love your application, too! I have been thinking a lot about this and teaching younger ones to cook. 😀
Just came across your blog, I planted egg plant in my garden. I was trying to be adventurous. The eggplant grew and grew. I was wondering for the last two months what in the world am I going to do with this thing.
Today, I water my plant an said God why in the world did I plant this vegetable–I do not even know how to cook it.
Look how good God is, you had the step by step direction. I will try it out later this month. Thanks
Jeff said it could even "pass" as a main dish alongside a salad and bread. And yay! for "Sistergirl" having eggplant ready to cook from your garden.
Yummy!! I need to try this… I still have quite found an reliable eggplant recipe.. hopefully yours will fit the bill 🙂 ~Alison
PS – My blog has a recipe swap that you may be interested in. Your recipe would be perfect! –> http://prairiestory.blogspot.com/
Ok so I am standing at Earth Fare looking at this eggplant. I say to myself: why not try it? It's a confidence thing here. Then I remember a good friend always orders eggplant parm when we eat Italian. (that's 2 good things going for it now) So knowing it's 'left-over pizza night', the trusty backup, I really have no excuse NOT to try it. The produce guy was Right there! So I asked him how to pick one and the one I grabbed (firm) was good!! I'm in a win win already!! But I have never tasted eggplant… All those years watching Lisa eat it and I shyed away like it had cooties. So I made the dish using your trusty recipe. I thought really good! Ta-Da!!! Mom said she would've eaten more if she could. The fam well I think if I made tortilini with it they'd go for it. Quite an accomplishment. A little prayer over the eggplant didn't hurt either.
Thanks Julie!! It WAS a confidence builder.
Trudi N, Knoxville TN
So happy to hear it was inspiring! 🙂 My husband is actually ASKING for me to make it again. Who knew? It's like I've discovered a whole new vegetable. 🙂
Julie I just got back from my second mission trip to the CVC. Mary, Nafti and Marcy were so gracious with their hospitatlity and love and Fotis, George and Alecko are so dedicated to the cause of Christ. What a wonderful experience.
Blessings,
Cyndy Baker