Punjab Eggplant with Quinoa Polenta

We are branching out yet again to another cultures cuisine.  In my spare time I think of soft foods I have had through the years and my mind rested upon an Indian carrot dish.  A friend of a friend ran an Indian restaurant in Frederick, MD and when I told her how I love the carrot dish and that normally I don't even like carrots she shared how it is made.  It takes HOURS and needs constant supervision, thus I choose another dish to make.  One day I may get the dish take-out for Dad to try, but that day will have to be put off for now.

So, I purchased the ingredients to make Punjab Eggplant, Jodhpur Lentils, and Aloo Palak instead.  I am making the first for lunch today.  It is roasted eggplant simmered in a tomato based sauce.  Dad has grown eggplant for me in the past and the only way he liked it is if I simmered it in a tomato curry base.  He and I are the only curry lovers in the house and eventhough this dish isn't exactly curry, it has cumin, ginger and turmeric which are sure to provide immense flavor.  We are all about big flavor these days as his taste buds may be effected by the radiation.  In fact this week and the next will be very telling as far as side effects go...we are hoping for the best as usual though are prepared for the worst.

He continues to be an excellent patient and trusts me with his care...perhaps that is why he is willing to eat all of these strange dishes!

Today is about as beautiful a fall day as Maryland has to offer. 

FYI:Turmeric is a plant. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine.

Turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn (dyspepsia), stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomachbloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders.

It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer’s disease, water retention, worms, and kidney problems.

Some people apply turmeric to the skin for pain, ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, and sores inside the mouth!