Doing some backtracking.

Tuesday: Roomie night and Eggplant Mozzarella Melt (Martha Stewart Style)

2 large eggs
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3/4 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
Olive oil, for baking sheet
1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 loaf (8 ounces) soft Italian bread
2 cups store-bought tomato sauce
8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread breadcrumbs in a pie plate or shallow bowl. Oil a rimmed baking sheet. Dip eggplant rounds in egg, then dredge in breadcrumbs, turning to coat completely; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake (without turning) until golden and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, split bread lengthwise, and place cut side up on another baking sheet; press gently in centers to create a well. Layer both halves with tomato sauce, eggplant, and cheese. Bake until cheese is browned in spots, 6 to 8 minutes.

Monday: Giants vs. The Pirates

Got lucky and was able to go to the Giants game on Monday. I've almost been living in the Bay Area for 5 years now and it turns out, that game was my first! How lame am I! They lost, but I won with great company and garlic fries :) 

Saturday: "Big Girls Small Kitchen" Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This bread has now been dubbed, "the best bread I've ever made." It's chocolatey goodness still makes my mouth water, and 2 loaves and 5 muffins were literally gone in a matter of 1 day. "In the Small Kitchen" is now my favorite cookbook, and I know others our benefitting from my attempts at their yummy recipes.

Makes 1 small loaf and 10-12 mini muffins

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons safflower oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 large very ripe bananas
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tesaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (milk or semisweet)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a small loaf pan and a dozen mini muffin cups. In a mixing bowl, combine the oil and the sugar. Beat in the egg, then add the bananas whole and mash them with a fork. Don’t overmash; you don’t want the batter to become gummy. Whisk together the flour, soda, powder, and salt. Fold it into the wet ingredients until the flour is just barely moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips. Bake for 10 minutes for the muffins and 25-35 minutes for the loaf, until a sharp knife stuck in comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before digging in.

Friday: Toby Keith at Shoreline 

One of the best concerts I've ever been to. Great atmosphere, great music, great friends. What summer is all about! Hope your weekends were as enjoyable as mine :) 

Trying to keep the positivity flowing into this crazy week. Somehow, things just keep getting busier and busier, but I'm taking that as a good sign! Happy Tuesday!