Blog | Cookbookmaniac

Eggplant Parmigiana – A Vegetarians Delight

Cheap Eats Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

I've never been a big fan of eggplant. The oblong, deep purple nightshade has always struck me as somewhat bland and mealy. One day, Pizzaboy's Italian Aunt, made eggplant parmigiana as an entree for a Christmas Eve meal. I have been converted ever since. Parmigiana is a classic Southern Italian dish made with thick slices of eggplant that are fried in olive oil until golden then layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil and baked until bubbly. Variations made with breaded meat cutlets, such as veal and chicken parmigiana, have been developed in other countries, usually in areas of Italian immigration. In some recipes the eggplant is breaded and fried. While this adds a whole extra layer of texture, I don't think it's necessary. There are many versions of eggplant parmigiana. I probably like them all. The earthy sweetness of the eggplant and tomato sauce, the gooey mozzarella, and…

Monte Carlo Reception – Celebrating 30 Years in Australia

Asian Restaurant Reviews By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

I was only 10 days old when my parents escaped war-torn Vietnam in 1979. They, along with half of our hometown, Camau (located on the southern tip of South Vietnam), jumped on boats and made the brave and dangerous journey towards freedom. After Ho Chi Minh took power and the threat of communism was fast becoming a way of life, my parents (and many others) were sent to re-education camps because they were of Chinese-descent. Almost everything that was worth building a future with was taken away from them, for fear of a revolt. My parents had to sell their precious belongings to a black market to feed their 5 daughters. Brave, but full of fear, they boarded strung-together boats to look for safer shores, leaving behind memories of atrocities that were never spoken of ever again. I am not quite sure how long the journey took, but we made…

Jerk Chicken – Everyone needs jerk at the bbq!

American Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

My first introduction to Jamaican food was at the Glebe Street Markets in November. I waited in line to order for over 20 minutes just wanting to try something different. The wait was made a lot easier because the cooks were very handsome and buff. I also noticed that they were practicing safe-hygiene, there was a sink to wash hands, boxes of disposable gloves conveniently attached to the rafters, the gentleman handling the cash was not handling the food. They ran out of rice, so I asked for an extra salad. I didn't know what to expect. The only thing I knew about jamaican cuisine was from cookbooks. To my elation my meal was delicious. The chicken was mildly spicy and despite is charcoal exterior it was perfectly cooked and smoky. The mango salsa was fantastic, it was sweet and very soft. The salsa complimented the chicken very well. The…