Football! – Week 3: Sayonara Eggplant
Last week’s guest prognosticator was a Japanese eggplant grown in my garden and he didn’t do as well as his predecessor – an ear of corn – but he didn’t do bad. Eggplant-san ended up getting ten correct, which is actually pretty good considering he spent the summer dangling from a plant in my backyard. The Pieholes, who STILL haven’t watched any NFL, got ten correct, too. Admirable scores, but not as good as mine – 13 correct, baby. So the Pies get more chores, and Eggplant-san bites it. Or should I say, we bite him…
Chilled Spicy Eggplant
I’ve made this 1,000 times over the past 15 years and it’s always been a hit. It’s a simple little Asian-inspired appetizer that only takes a 2-3 minutes of active cooking.
1 pound Japanese eggplants (4-5), sliced about an inch thick
1 teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes – I prefer 2, but that’s probably more spice than most people can handle
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 green onion, thinly sliced diagonally
1 – Place the sliced eggplant in a steamer for about 15 minutes until soft.
2 – In a small pan, heat the canola oil for a minute or two over medium heat. Add the pepper flakes and cook for 30-45 seconds, but don’t let them burn. Remove from heat and stir in the soy, vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil.
3 – Pour it over the eggplant and chill. Right before serving, sprinkle it with the green onion. That’s it!
Week 3 Picks
This week’s guest picker is a humble Michigan-grown pear, which we’ll refer to as a female in this post. Why? Well, for one thing I’ve always wanted to say “I picked her up at the Farmers Market for a couple of bucks.” And that most Michigan-grown females are pear-shaped…. Yes, I know, so are the guys.
Patriots at Bills – Pieholes and I choose Pats, pear picks Bills
Jaguars at Panthers – Pear and I choose Panthers, Pies choose Jags
Broncos at Titans – All pick Broncos
Giants at Eagles – Pieholes and I choose Giants, pear picks Eagles
Texans at Saints – Pies and pear choose Texans, I pick Saints
Lions at Viqueens – Pies and pear choose Viqueens, I’ve never thought I’d hear myself say that I choose the Lions to remain undefeated
Dolphins at Browns – All pick Dolphins
69ers at Bengals – Pear and I pick Niners, Pies pick Bengals
Jets at Raiders – All pick Jets
Ravens at Rams – Pies and I pick Ravens, pear picks Rams
Chiefs at Chargers – Pies and I pick Chargers, pear picks Chiefs
Falcons at Bucs – Pies and pear pick Bucs, I pick Falcons
Cardinals at Seahawks – Pies and I pick Cards, pear picks Seahawks
Fudge Packers at Bears – Pies and pear pick the Pack, I pick the Bears who I know will lose. Note – I will NEVER pick the Pack over the Bears.
Steelers at Colts – All pick Shitsburgh
Redskins at Cowboys – All pick the Skins.
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3 comments on “Football! – Week 3: Sayonara Eggplant”
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I can’t agree with the Redskins… good luck on the rest of your picks! Go Cowboys!
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