Vegetables & Fruits

1 large eggplant (1 pound), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces1 teaspoon fine table salt¼ cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons for drizzling2 large zucchini, trimmed, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1-inch pieces1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces4 cloves garlic,…

Place eggplant in large colander set over large bowl; sprinkle w 2 tsp salt and toss. Let stand at least 1 hr and up to 3. Rinse under running water to remove salt. Spread in even layer on triple thick paper towels; cover w another triple thickness. Press firmly w hands until eggplant is dry…

Preheat oven to 450F w rack in lower third. Toast baguette slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet in oven until tops are crisp (bread will still be pale), about 7 min. Transfer to a rack to cool. Remove top of pumpkin by cutting a circle 3” in diameter around stem w small sharp…

Preheat oven to 350. Place uncut pumpkins in large shallow dish and add 1 inch water. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes, til tender. Let cool. Reheat oven to 375. With paring knife, remove tops from pumpkins. Remove and discard seeds; then scoop out flesh, leaving 1/4 inch shells. Place pumpkin flesh in mixing…

Preheat oven to 350. Carefully cut a 1-inch slice off the top of the pumpkin. Reserving the top, scoop out and discard the seeds and strings. Make 3 layers each of toast and cheese in the pumpkin cavity, alternating layers and ending w cheese. Whisk together the half-and-half, eggs salt, pepper and nutmeg and slowly…

Heat oven to 500. Sprinkle the inside of the pumpkin w s&p OR brown sugar and nutmeg. Spoon 1/4 c applesauce into each pumpkin. Dot the top of each with butter, if desired. Top w reserved “lids”. Bake until pumpkins are tender and the filling is hot, 50-60 min. If desired, serve w a dollop…

Preheat oven to 425 and lightly oil a large shallow baking pan. Halve bell peppers lengthwise and discard seeds & ribs. Arrange peppers, cut sides up, in baking pan and lightly oil cut edges and stems. Mix tomatoes, onion, and chopped basil. Finely chop garlic and toss w tomato mix and 2T oil. Divide among…

Boil pearl onions in salted water 15 min and drain in colander. Rinse under cold water, then peel. Cook scallions and sugar snaps in large pot of boiling salted water 1 min. Add shelled peas and pearl onions and cook 1 min more, or until all vegetables are crisp-tender. Drain vegetables and toss w pea…

Cook fresh peas 3-5 min, then drain. Briskly simmer cream w 1/4 c mint in 1-1.5 quart saucepan until slightly thickened and reduced to about 1/2 c, 4-5 min. Pour through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding mint. Cook celery and onion in butter in 4-5 qt heavy saucepan over…

Halve pears vertically, remove core with a melon-baller, then slice, face down into thin pieces about dime-sized. Mix walnut oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Bruch pear chips on both sides. You want them to be coated, but not soaked. Put in air-fryer basket and cook at 400 until crisp. You will need to moitor…