Farmer Boy Recipe - Country-Style Ratatouille

This is not a story about an animated Rat in a movie!  (Even though that is a cute movie.)  This is my concoction for a special summer garden harvest.  It differs from the traditional Ratatouille recipe with the addition of summer yellow squash.

Ratatouille comes from the French region of Provence.  The first part of the name (Rata) can be translated as, "Chunky".  The second part comes from a French verb, meaning "to stir".  The slang, or common use, is that it is "Chunky Stew".  No matter what its names means, it is good!

I usually try to plan a garden so that all the veggies come to harvest together at the time I need them.  This year my Eggplants didn't co-operate!  I had to buy some to prepare this dish.  But that's okay; when they do come to harvest I'll be able to make this again!  Shakespeare said, "the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry."  That's the way it is in gardening; some years it all works together and others it doesn't.

This is a dish that you can run wild with!  I even save some to cook in scrambled eggs for breakfast!  And I'm not opposed to the addition of sliced mushrooms!  I've made this dish for over 25 years now and have many variations.  And there have been some failures; which we won't go into here!  So, remember, cooking should be fun!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Cup - Olive Oil
• 1 medium - Eggplant (peeled & cubed into 1 inch cubes)  (I like to grow the oriental variety)
• 1 large - Zucchini (cut into 1 cubes)
• 1 large - Yellow Squash (cut into 1 inch cubes)

• 2 Tablespoons - Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 Cups - sliced Onions (I prefer Vidalia)
• 2 large - Bell Peppers (cut into 1 inch strips)
• 3 cloves of Garlic (chopped)
• Salt & Pepper - to taste
• 2 Tablespoons - Basil
• 4 medium to large - Tomatoes (unpeeled & unseeded - cubed) (Plum work best)
• Grated Parmesan Cheese - to taste

Directions: (you may wish to salt down the eggplant in a bowl and let it sit to release extra moisture & then drain before cooking)
In a large skillet or Dutch Oven - saute the eggplant, zucchini and squash in the oil, stirring on high heat, till tender (about 10 - 12 minutes).  Remove the veggies from the pan.  Add 2 Tablespoons of oil and saute the onions over medium heat.  Add the Bell peppers and garlic.  Cook till tender (about 8 - 10 minuts).  Return the other veggies to the pan, along with the tomatoes.  Season with the salt, pepper and basil.  Cover over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. 
Serve over cooked rice or noodles, topped with Parmesan cheese.  Tastes really good reheated the next day!   *Please note: No rats were harmed in the preparation.

If you prepare this dish and like it, please let us all know by leaving a comment here.  Thanks. The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"There is something in living close to the great elemental forces of nature that causes people to rise above small annoyances and discomforts." Laura Ingalls Wilder