Eggplant grilled cheese

This one is for those stormy summer days. The days where you stay in, read, watch movies and relax.

It's so easy, so gooey and delicious. You will lick your fingers.


What you will need (for one grilled cheese)

• 2 slices of your favorite bread (I've used one with loads of grains in it)
• about 10 thin sliced of eggplant (small) or 4 (big)
• 2 small red shallots, chopped into thin rings
• Soft goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon of fresh, minced basil, rosemary, thyme
• 2 tablespoons of margarine
• 2 tablespoons of oil.

1. In a frying pan, on medium-low, drop in about 1 1/2 tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, drop in both the shallots and eggplants. Fry them. When done, remove them from the pan. You can oil if you find that they arent frying well.
2. Take your slices of bread. Spread margarine on both exterior sides (the ones that will be touching the pan.
3. Spead some soft goat cheese on one of the interior sides on ONE of the slices.
4. Sprinkle the herbs and place the shalotts and eggplant on top.
5. Top with the other slice of bread.
6. In the same frying pan (it will absorb the flavour fromt he eggplant and shallots), over medium-high, place the sandwich and and let grill for about 1 minute. Flip. Do this until the bread is crispy and golden. Take off the heat.

I recommend slicing the sandwich in two before devouring it. You can have it alone, with a simple salad or ok, yes, fries.

Enjoy!

Colorful tomato salad

Ok readers, I know. I need to post more often. Once a month is not enough. Specially, considering I'm trying to turn this blog into a book...

Anyways! Enough of that.

Summer time is finally here. Ok, not officially, but it sure feels like it.
It's warm, it's humid, it's sunny. I don't know about you, but for me, summer represents freshness. Fresh clothes, fresh smells and most importantly, fresh food.

Lots of veggies. Colorful veggies.
So, today I have for you a quick and easy recipe using very little ingredients. A fresh and delicious tomato salad.

Here is what you will need:

• 1 large red tomato, chopped
• 1 large yellow tomato, chopped
• 1 medium size tomatillo, chopped
• 1/3 cup of chopped red onion
• 1 half of green pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup of fresh, chopped, cilantro (coriander)
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (you can use whatever oil you have at home)
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (balsamic, wine vinegar will work just as well)
• 1 dash of salt and pepper 
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of either cayenne pepper or Tabasco

So, having all your ingredients ready, all you need to do is throw them in a large bowl and mix well.
For the cayenne/Tabasco, I suggest you go little by little and taste. You can add more according to your liking. Let sit in the a cool place (like the refrigerator) for about 15 minutes to make sure all the ingredients' flavour mix well together.

And that's it! It reminds me of a cross between bruschetta and a fresh salsa. You can have it as a salad, you could add fresh lettuce to it as well. Have it on bread. So many possibilities! And it keeps for about 2-3 days.

Enjoy!