Well, I think I have finally figured the eggplant sticks out. One key is to make sure you use plenty of water with the egg...two cups or so...and another is to not salt the sticks until after they are finished baking. Also, you want to get a long, thin eggplant, not the big, fat ones. Apparently, the long ones are male eggplants and the rounder ones are female. The male ones make better sticks. I know there's a joke in there somewhere, but I am going to leave well enough alone.
I admit, I haven't been posting very often lately. I got out of the habit because we moved, then DH was home from Iraq, then I was painting the house...lots going on. Anyway, I've been lurking for a while, so I'll try to be better about posting.
Tonight, I am probably not cooking. DD has her annual ice skating show tomorrow, and tonight is dress rehearsal. It is conveniently scheduled during dinner time.
Here's the recipe:
Mom's Famous Eggplant Sticks
One long eggplant, peeled and cut into sticks about 1/2 inch thick, 3-4 inches long.
1 egg
2 cups water
flour, about two cups
breadcrumbs, about two cups (Mom uses Progresso Italian flavored)
Vegetable oil, for baking sheet
Preheat oven to 400.
Lightly oil a baking sheet, set aside.
Whisk the egg together with the water in a medium bowl. Put flour in a bowl or large plastic bag. Put the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl or plastic bag.
Dip the eggplant first in the egg mix, then in flour (shake any excess off), then back in egg, then in crumbs. Put on baking sheet. Do this in small batches until all the eggplant is crumbed. Add additional flour and breadcrumbs to your bowl as needed.
Put baking sheet in on the lower oven rack (put the rack in the lowest position) and bake 45 minutes. Turn once about halfway through. Salt when the sticks are done.
Mom also tries to make sure she doesn't have anything else in the oven when making these. She says they come out better.
Enjoy!