Name Your Price, Kid

I have a sort of agreement with myself that I won't talk about potty training in this space because obviously. How awful would it be to go on a date with a boy and then find out he read all about your potty training adventures on your mom's blog? That's a special sort of awful. So. I make it a point to not create that sort of trail.

Which.

Well.

I don't really need to because OMG MILA IS NEVER GOING TO GIVE ME ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT.

Ahem.

While Alexis was Little Miss Let's Check Out Every Restroom Ever But Then Not Do Anything, Mila is Little Miss Nope. Nooope. Nope. Nopity nope nope. She has zero interest in any of it, which, fine. That's cool. Actually, it's more than cool because I already checked out every possible restroom with Alexis all those years ago, so I'm good with not visiting them again. Seriously.

But ... well, this whole thing is confusing. It's confusing because Mila is the most bribeable kid ever, to the point which this conversation is a real thing that happened.

"Mila, pick your sticker up off the floor, please."

"No."

"Mila, pick up your mess now."

<ignoring of words and stuff>

"Mila, do I have to bribe you?"

"Yes, please. I want candy."

Seriously. If I ask Mila if she needs to be bribed, she will consistently say yes and then name her price. It stands to reason that I should be able to find some sort of payment for giving this pottying thing a try. We've thrown gymnastics classes, Hello Kitty pull-ups, and super cute underwear out there.

Mila is interested in the bribes.

But not interested enough to walk into a restroom.

It's a really very good thing I already believed that "training" a kid to do anything is a joke because the only person getting trained these days is me.

Grandma's Eggplant Parmesan

Just so we're clear, you cannot say the words "My Tiny Grandma (was 4'10") made the best Eggplant Parmesan" to me unless you plan on sharing the recipe. It's a rule at this point.

Thank goodness. These things are rules because sometimes the statements are true and OMG.

You guys.

I love eggplant always, but yes this is some really fantastic eggplant pamesan.We have put it on a hoagie roll for Eggplant Parmesan Sandwiches and we've also paired it with spaghetti. It was some happy stuff both times.

So thanks for sharing the recipe, Mary. I already taught Alexis how to make it, so it will be passed on for at least one more generation. The best part is that she learned to make it without any quantities of the ingredients, which is exactly how family recipes should be passed down.

(If you have a recipe that came to the United States with an immigrant and you are okay with me trying it and posting it here, please email! The address is burghbaby (at) gmail (dot) com.)

Grandmas's Eggplant Parmesan

1. Cut eggplant into even slices. (As narrated by my Dad who told me Grandpa likes his slices thicker and Grandma likes hers a little thinner so there was always a bit of an issue with how thick the slices should be.)

2. Blanch eggplant - How to blanch eggplant (stole from internet): Cook (blanch) the eggplant for 4 minutes. Begin counting the blanching time as soon as you place the eggplant in the boiling water. Cover the kettle and boil at a high temperature for the required amount of time. You may use the same blanching water multiple times (up to 5 times).

My Dad always dried the eggplant on paper towels once they came out of the water.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

4. Bread eggplant - My Dad's method was to dip it in egg (can be eliminated if you don't do dairy) then in the panko that has a liberal amount of parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings mixed in. (Again, there was always a loud discussion about how the eggplant should be breaded. When I laughed my Dad did point out we are Italian after all and that these "discussions" happened on a regular basis.)

5. Spread marinara sauce in the bottom of the baking dish.

6. Layer breaded eggplant in the sauce. Can make two layers - add cheese, spoon in more sauce and then add more eggplant on top, but one layer is best.

7. Sprinkle lots of cheese on top (mozzarella and parmesan are preferred in my house).

8. Optional - sprinkle basil on top.

9. Pop it in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. (Funny side note: My Tiny Grandma could smell when it was done.)

Objects in Mirror are More Mischievous than They Appear