Comforting food
Hi friends! Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? I have a baby shower, bachelorette party and wedding to attend- lots going on this weekend 🙂
The Pilot’s schedule has been crazy as ever this week, so when he requested eggplant parmesean last night, I delivered.
Sometimes comfort food is all ya need 🙂
But, bread anything, fry it and bake it with marinara and cheese and you’re pretty much guaranteed a foodgasm 😉
Prep station:
I sautéed my eggplant with olive oil, sea salt and pepper
and the Pilot’s got an egg bath, dip in fresh bread crumbs and pan-fried in olive oil
Layered with kinda-homemade marinara
with organic chicken sausage and fresh basil
Italian cheese trio for him, goat gouda for her
with broccolini and asparagus
Kinda amazing 😀
It was nice, too, because we enjoyed dinner at the table, sans technology. I mentioned the other night that it’s pretty easy for both of us to come home and unwind- Pilot at the TV and me at the laptop. Technology is awesome, but sometimes can get in the way of life 😉 It’s good to know when to turn things off and enjoy the company of others, ya know?
We’re off to bfast with the fam <3
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: How do you keep technology from getting in the way? Do you turn off the laptop at certain times? What about the TV? We refuse to have one in our bedroom for that very reason 🙂
69 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
YUMMMMM. One of my all time faves. I also LOVE zucchini parm. MMMMMMMM. with spicy peppers chopped in? ohmahgawd.
I’m with you on the no TV in the bedroom. I can’t sleep with it on and my boyfriend falls asleep with it on. Bad combo! Your dinner looked amazing, like usual 😉
Have a fun weekend!
Weird question for you. Are there any brand of workout gloves you recommend? I recently started working out with a personal trainer so I have been lifting heavier weights and doing different exercises than I used to. I am getting caulses on my palms at the base of each finger that are quite uncomfortable. Also, where is the best place to buy something like this?
i really like the go fit ones- but that’s because they make them in pink 😉 check out sports authority or dick’s
I try to power everything down after 4:00. With the exception of the tv – I don’t usually turn it on until after 8:00 and then my husband and I will watch a show if we feel like it. That way I’m not watching more than an hour or two of tv a day.
I think its definitely easy to tune out reality by being on twitter/blogs/facebook/watching tv constantly. A couple nights each week, my hubby and I will eat dinner with no distractiosn (no tv or anything on in the background)… we end up having awesome talks and enjoying eachothers company which is nice!
That eggplant parm looks amazing!
We also refuse to have a tv in our bedroom! The bedroom is meant for two things and two things only — sleeping and sex 😉
amen
looks delicious!!
Its friday but we haven’t figured out our plans for the long weekend yet! last minute plans i guess hehe
i think we need to have more technology-less evenings at home. We eat while watching tv and use the computer a fair amount. No tv in the bedroom, i think its pointless, thats where you go to sleep.. among other things. tv is not necessary.
yes, it would just be a distraction 😉
This looks so good!
I’m totally with you on no TV in the bedroom – talk about a passion killer!
During Hurricane Irene my boyfriend and I were without power for 12 hours. We were both somewhat amused/quite disturbed by how much our moods decreased without the tech. I kept using the “I want to see what’s going on with this hurricane” excuse, but really my shoulders were starting to twitch without that comfy feeling that if I want to I can pop online for a few minutes or watch mindless TV. Def need to get back into grad school mode where the only Tech I used was Microsoft Word and online library reference guides. Good for you and The Pilot for using in moderation! 🙂
This looks yummy- we’ve also found that if you lightly brush the eggplant with olive oil and broil for a few minutes on each side, it crisps up nicely, but without the frying/crumbs! Hmm.. I might have to make it this weekend!
We also keep a tv out of the bedroom, but we aren’t so great with turning our phone/email off at a certain time!
Have a great day!
I am really not a big TV watcher, and definitely don’t have one in my bedroom. If I do watch anything, it’s on my laptop, but again, it’s not often. I’m not sure why… I guess I just feel really unproductive watching tv. Your dinner looks amazing!! 🙂
No TV in our bedroom either! Something I insisted on when we moved in a year or so ago. He doesn’t even miss it, but then again he has his 52″ baby in the living room to cling to 😉
I used to always turn my phone on silent when I was out with people, but now I find myself turning to it more often if everyone I’m with is also on their phones. I once knew somebody who refused to answer/look at his phone when he was with people. He always said something like, “the people I am with are my first priority and have my full attention and if someone is calling or texting, they can wait until I can give them my undivided attention.” I liked that and should probably start using that more in my daily life!
Also, a few years ago I put a TV in my bedroom because I was having ankle surgery and figured I would want it while I was chilling in bed recovering. I had 2 surgeries over the past 2 years and never once turned it on. I’m having a third surgery soon, and I highly doubt the TV will get used this time around. I should probably just get rid of it!
Certainly no TV in the bedroom and no TV until the vening on weekends…otherwise we turn the TV on at 11 am on Saturday and it turns out there is a Friends Season 5 re-run and the whole day is spent in front of the box. If you don’t turn it on you don’t know about the Friends re-run:)
Have you ever made that with zucchini? I can’t eat eggplant…
We have a family dinner with the 4 of us if we’re all at home. Over the years it has come to mean a LOT to my girls, especially now that it might be the only time they can talk on a school night with all the homework and sports and theatre, etc.
No cells allowed at meals.
No staring at a screen while talking to each other face to face (I’m bad at that one!).
No TV in the kids bedrooms. (although with laptops that hardly matters).
My daughter was so funny the other night. She said, “The middle school principal told all of them that their laptops should be in a community room of the house not their bedroom. Should I tell her – then I’d have to see all my dad’s porn?” HA! Her mind is so 45 stuck in a 14 year old…
How do you have the energy to basically make two dinners? I’m in awe! Looks awesome!
Looks like a great, authentic meal- you sure do know your cuisines! 🙂
we are TOTAL tv people and love following shows together… and it’s almost as much of a ritual as our anniversary to watch chelsea lately in bed every night. BUT… occasionally i have to put my foot down and demand a meal sans technology. i personally don’t mind watching tv so much right now while it’s just the hubby and me, but when we have kids, i feel very strongly about family dinners at the table without tv, enjoying each other’s company.
Awww, that is so cute that you really like to cook and I bet the pilot loves you for it:)
I am going to give that a go………….looks delish!
I have never had a tv in my bedroom, but changed my mind on that when I got an extra tv, it’s not a regular habit, but, nice to watch tv in bed once in a while…………………then turn it off and sleep……………it’s like being in a hotel at home, if that makes any sense……..
Have a great wknd!!!
I’ve lived in student accommodations so long that not having a laptop ready to put on my lap would be a worrying experience. If I need a break though I just make ‘er sleep and read or do whatever else.
I totally agree, it’s one thing that really bugs me, how tv can be such a substitute for communication and connection and sharing each others company…like i think quality time > tv time any day of the week 🙂 it makes me feel better to know that you sometimes feel that way in your relationship too, and that it’s probably pretty normal…you just gotta make sure to set aside time together whilst still winding down. In our last house we didn’t even have a TV, and I MUCH preferred it, we would just hang out and talk and watch a movie on the laptop or go for a walk…but now we have a TV Tom likes it a LOT, lol! Couple learning curve! 🙂 xyx
Couldn’t agree more on the technology thing. We made a recent rule of dinner + 1 hour of whatever afterwards sans technology. It’s kind of refreshing 🙂
I always love the nights when my boyfriend and I come home and enjoy a meal at the actual table with the TV off and the pup at our feet. Plus I don’t get food on my laptop.
I remember when I read your post about how you refuse to have a TV in the bedroom, and I thought, OMG when I live with my boyfriend, husband, whoever, a TV in the bedroom will not be allowed either. Such a smart idea.
funny you brought this up. regis and kelly were just talking about technology on their show yesterday, how before when smoking was allowed in restaurants, that was the annoying habit, now it’s ppl texting! so true!
i try to turn tv off around 10, but sometimes that goes on til 1030. also i try to have my laptop and phone away from me around the same time…so it’s just sleep and talk in the dark time with my bubby. 🙂
We had an Italian feast last night too — it was so delicious. Even though it is a million degrees outside, a warm plate of food is so good.
We don’t have a TV In our room and laptops aren’t really allowed in there either. The bedroom should be for sleep and sex!
Looks like a yummy meal indeed! The hubby and I usually always try to have dinner together (unless we have other plans, of course), and our “rule” is no tv, computers, or phones at the table. Sounds like a rule we’d have with kids, but it’s something we’ve both agreed to so that we can have quality time together and talk about our days, etc.
That’s precisely why we don’t have a TV in our bedroom either! Most of the time, we just would rather not have the TV on at all. But I always watch Jeopardy while cooking 🙂
My boyfriend recently went back to working shift work and I started taking a night class two nights a week. So our rare dinners together are precious! I’ve been making a point of having us sit down with no electronics and actually have conversation. I now understand why my mom would yell at me for trying to read at the table!
We also refuse to have a TV in our bedroom. 🙂 Or any sort of technology other than our alarm clocks on our cell phones.
It’s my biggest pet peeve when I’m out to dinner and the people I’m with are on their phones. I have no problem calling people out on it, too. Why invite me to dinner (or accept the invitation) if you don’t really want to be in my company? I’m just as happy going alone! 🙂
I agree 100% with always making an effort to unplug and appreciate the company of those you love 🙂
I don’t keep a tv in the bedroom and I don’t turn on the computer outside of work. My cell, unfortunately, is always on and at my side lol.
Dinner looks delicious!
I think you got some major wife points last night- that looks like an amazing dinner!! I would never think of just sauteing a veggie like that and adding marinara but I’m def going to give it a try! And it’s def hard to unplug after a long day but I’m glad you two had such a nice din together!
Looks amazing. I am always afraid to make parmigiana, it seems to difficult, but yours came out great.
I love making healthy eggplant parm! It is so tasty! Like you said anything with marinara and cheese is going to be awesome!!!
Amen to no TV in the bedroom. I actually read somewhere a long time ago that it messes with your sleep if you do things in your bed other than sleeping and having awesome makeout sessions 😉 If that’s all you do, your brain automatically goes into sleepy mode when you get into bed – but if you’re used to watching tv in bed, you’ll have a hard time falling asleep quickly.
Technology is something we need to be more aware of. A lot nights before I know it I’ve spent the entire night on my laptop and the other half on the tv/xbox. Tonight we are off out for a meal with my Dad which will be nice 🙂
I have a rule: no TV or laptop after 9pm. I like to be in bed, with my book, for at least an hour before bed. It relaxes and calms me down, and I sleep so much better when I stick to this!
Although technology can be pretty kick ass. My BF and I are long-distance, and Skype is currently keeping our relationship sane. I suggested that we have a Skype “dinner date” tonight. He liked it : )
All technology must be off at dinner time. Other than that we all have our own to resort to – but I want to try to be less dependent on it to entertain me.
What brand of chicken sausage do you buy?
I like unplugging, but my boyfriend definitely doesn’t. Even if he is just getting out of the shower, but just has to get dressed before leaving, he turns on the tv for those 3 minutes. It drives me crazy! Can’t we have a nice quiet conversation for those few minutes? haha
Unplugging is definitely hard. I like the idea of no phones or texting during dinner too.
Amen for this
“. Technology is awesome, but sometimes can get in the way of life 😉 It’s good to know when to turn things off and enjoy the company of others, ya know?”
YES!!
We had a rule at my house growing up, no tv during dinner! And back then no one had cell phones and if the phone rang during dinner, we didn’t answer it. And you know what, I do the same thing now with my own family as much as humanly possible.
Before Skylar, Scott & I did the eat and watch tv and veg out together thing and it was great but 4 yr olds have a hard time eating on the couch and not spilling everywhere 🙂 But seriously, just trying to instill the whole family time/good values thing 🙂
We try to make it a point to close our laptops and put cell phones away at dinner time, although every know and then we are guilty of eating in front of the tv- especially on friday. Night pizza night before our long runs/bike rides. One thing we stay strict about though is no TV in the bedroom, best decision ever! 🙂
That is one lucky pilot!!
What a yummy meal. Good work!! Enjoy the long weekend!
Baby Shower for you?!?
no, not til november 🙂
In my opinion TV should be something you enjoy while watching news, your favorit show or a good movie and otherwise be turned off. Sadly my bf thinks its best used as background-entertainment all the time, because he was raised with it. Its turned on 2 minutes after getting up and turned off just a few seconds before his eyes are closed for sleeping. -.- There will be definitley no TV in our future bedroom.
I definitely know what you mean about having technology “stations.” We don’t have a tv in our bedroom either, and that helps 🙂 I have a co-worker who decided to have no technology from Friday dinner through Saturday brunch, and she and her family love it. She’s a blogger, too, which makes it pretty impressive 🙂
I’ve been ignorant about the many forms goat cheese comes in! Where do you get your slices?
trader joes 🙂
I love chicken Parmesan but I haven’t tried making a gluten-free version yet. I have an eggplant in my fridge. Think that’s my mission for the weekend!
Dinner looked delish! I usually make a more-healthy eggplant parm by just baking the eggplant, but obviously it can never hold a taste-candle to the real thing 🙂
We have designated times where we ‘shut off’- and no phones allowed when we’re on dates!!
I never can come up with a great way to prepare eggplant, that looks delicious!!! I will definitely try it.
In our house we have a no phone from 8pm-10pm rule and try to make it a point to eat dinner together at the table or couch (if we’re feeling lazy) and have a chat and unwind. Only then we either watch a movie together or a show. If not, we sit on each end of the couch and give each other foot rubs…best.relaxing.evenings.ever.