At the risk of repeating myself, this week's Sunday Evening is about apples. Again.I wouldn't do this if there wasn't a pretty damn good reason behind it, so rest assured it's not about cider donuts and Cortlands like last time.
I think it's safe to assume that this is the last time I'll be apple picking this year, so I wanted to make sure we went to the right place. I wanted to get my hands on some varieties I'd never eaten before, and we found the perfect spot - McDougal Orchards in Springvale.
They've got plenty of your standard supermarket-variety apples, but tucked away in the very back-left corner of the orchard are trees bearing heirloom varieties such as Blue & Grey Pearmains, Brocks, Tolman Sweets and Lady Apples. It was like stepping back in time walking past the groups of folks lapping up the macs only to end up in what seemed like an untouched corner of the earth. These are real apples, and more pictures will show up soon, but that's another post (lady apples----->).I had a grand vision to turn these antique apples into a five-course meal, and still do, but couldn't find the time, nor the energy this weekend. Instead, Sunday's dinner was a satisfying old standby - Mom's homemade eggplant parm.
Eggplant parm is one of my favorite things on earth, and having grown up eating this specific recipe is probably why it resonates so strongly with me. Pulling it out of the freezer to bake was like unearthing a piece of my childhood, and the smell coming from the oven a half hour later was nostalgic to say the least. It may not look pretty, but I can damn well promise you that this is some killer eggplant parmesan. Served over a messy plate of bucatini and red sauce, it made for a Sunday diner no less satisfying than any of the best meals I've ever had.Sometimes it isn't the food itself but the coinciding memories that make for a great meal.
~E~
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