Recipes that appear in Idea Alley have not been tested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Kappi Whitmore's request for eggplant pancakes brought back memories for several Kats.
"My grandmother also made [eggplant pancakes] but we called them eggplant fritters," Sandy Walker writes.
"My family is all in south Louisiana, so maybe the name is geographical. I am enclosing two recipes -- one is the original fritter, which is flat and improved with a small shake of powdered sugar or a big spoonful of shrimp Creole (without rice) on top. The second is from my aunt (88 years young!) and is thicker so you get a ball (boulette) shape -- either way they are wonderful."
Eggplant Fritter (Flat)
1 medium to large green or white eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Oil, for frying
Cook (boil) eggplant until tender; drain and mash.
Mix together the egg, milk, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, then mix with the mashed eggplant.
Heat oil in a large skillet.
Drop into a small amount of hot oil with a large "pot spoon." Brown on both sides.
Makes 4 to 6 pancakes.
Eggplant Fritter (Boulette)
1 medium to large green or white eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup baking mix such as Pioneer or Bisquick
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Oil, for frying
Cook (boil) eggplant until tender; drain and mash.
Mix together the egg, sugar, baking mix, salt and vanilla, then mix with mashed eggplant. Heat oil in a deep skillet. Drop by heaping tablespoons into hot oil and brown on all sides.
Makes about 15.
"This is the only way I ever ate eggplant until a few years ago," Linda Mann writes.
"My mother always made it as follows. I have updated this preparation by adding grated parmesan cheese to the mixture, which gives it a better flavor and crisps well. Finely chopped onion is another option I have tried. Also good."
Eggplant Pancake
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut into small chunks
1 egg
1 to 2 tablespoons flour
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste OR Cavendar's Greek Seasoning
Grated parmesan cheese, optional
Finely chopped onion, optional
Butter, for frying
Cook eggplant in a small amount of water until tender. Drain, squeezing out excess water, if needed.
Beat egg with the flour, seasoning, cheese and onion, if using; mix with eggplant, blend well.
Heat butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Drop eggplant mixture by spoonfuls into skillet. Cook on both sides until cooked through and browned. Delicious!
Sandy Bagwell shares this pie recipe that will appeal to anyone looking to enjoy something sweet, while avoiding sugar.
Bagwell notes the recipe is from an Extension Homemaker Clubs booklet.
"Since family members have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I was anxious to see if it really was as good as they said. Actually, it was better than they said," Bagwell writes.
In exchange, Bagwell is seeking a diabetes-friendly pie crust recipe. If you have one, please send it to the address below.
Sugar-Free Pecan Pie
6 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash kosher salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 (12-ounce) jar sugar-free honey (see note)
1 cup pecans, halves or chopped
Pie crust, optional
In a large bowl, combine the butter, vanilla, salt, eggs and sugar-free honey and mix well. Stir in pecans and pour into a pie plate that has been sprayed with Pam or lined with crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
Note: Sugar-free honey is not honey, but an artificially flavored low-calorie sugar alcohol, usually xylitol or maltitol. Bagwell says you can find it on the jelly aisle at Wal-Mart.
Send recipe contributions, requests and culinary questions to Kelly Brant, Idea Alley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; email:
kbrant@arkansasonline.com
Please include a daytime phone number.
Food on 02/24/2016