Penne with Tomatoes, Eggplant and Mozzarella for Meatless and Magazine Monday!

Quite awhile back I decided to participate in Meatless Monday. Then I fell off that wagon. I do believe it's time to hoist my butt back onto the wagon.

Hey, could someone give a sister a leg up here?

Actually, someone has. :-) Inspired by the ever healthy creative inventions of Joanne, Natashya and countless others........I have my beloved pasta dish combined with veggies. Healthy fare. My doctor would be pleased. (And I still get pasta)



Penne with Tomatoes, Eggplant and Mozzarella

½ pound penne pasta (probably about a ½ box)
¼ cup olive oil
1 medium eggplant, cut into ½ inch pieces
½ pound cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cloves garlic, sliced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper
½ pound mozzarella, cut into small pieces
¼ cup fresh mint leaves

Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water when you are draining the cooked pasta.

Heat oil in skillet and add eggplant. Toss it occasionally until browned – this will take roughly 8 to 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes and spices, turning until tomatoes soften up. Now add tomato mixture to the pasta along with the reserved water and mozzarella. Toss it to combine well. Sprinkle with mint.

This one if from an old Real Simple Magazine, October 2010 issue.

Easy, healthy, vegetarian.

I will be sending this to CreamPuffs in Venice for her roundup of Magazine Monday.



For more information on Meatless Monday just do a web search where you'll find countless sites devoted to MM. Here are two good links to start with:

Meatless Monday
HISTORY of Meatless Monday

All I can say is, I will give it my best!