An ode to eggplant

The end of summer brings tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant... and sometimes all at the same time!  Tonight I cooked up the very last zucchini and picked a few of the tomatoes brave enough to survive the increasingly chilly nights.  But most importantly:  the eggplants are getting their second wind.  Here are my latest favorite eggplant recipes, starting with the amazing pasta concoction Ansu posted this week...

Best eggplant sauce to hit pasta.  Ever.  And this blogger's writeup is really entertaining, too.
http://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2010/06/francis-lams-letmyeggplantgo-free-spaghetti.html

A delicious garlicky Melitzanosalata.  Thanks Julie and Laura!
http://salmonandsouvlaki.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/my-new-favorite-way-to-eat-eggplant/

My old standby ratatouille recipe from Simply in Season is tasty, but only earns an honorable mention next to these beauties.

Cherry tomatoes: roasted

Is your August garden all red?  Try roasting the little guys like this:
http://www.simplebites.net/slow-roasted-cherry-tomatoes-a-simple-summer-appetizer/

Light bulbs to bring home

Looking for CFLs or LED bulbs that will cast the most aesthetically pleasing light?  Here are two recommended by professional lighting designers:

Philips EnergySaver Twister Warm White 13W
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/eco-friendly-products/light-bulb-reviews/philips-energysaver-13w-t2-twister-soft-white-light-bulb-59

Philips AmbientLED 25W A19
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Ambient-5-watt-Light-Bulb/dp/B005POXQSO

Remember that although LED bulbs are more expensive, they also last significantly longer; therefore they are more economical over the long run.

Guerilla Gardening: Holes of Happiness

Today's moment of zen:  this guerilla gardener creates tiny aesthetic interventions in London potholes.  Happy weekend, everyone!

www.thepotholegardener.com

What's in your Wheelhaus?

Here's an elegant adaptation of the Recreational Park Trailer... and it's built to LEED gold standards!
http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/green-homes/sustainable-homes/wheelhaus-zmhz12sozmel.aspx

Where plastic ends up

This week, NPR played a report from The Story about plastic trash in the ocean.  You can listen to it here:
http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_082112_full_show.mp3/view

Why US gas prices are climbing again

Refinery issues disrupt supply:
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/08/13/fuel-prices-spike-following-chevron-fire/

US drought affects ethanol production:
http://www.theworld.org/2012/08/in-face-of-drought-un-asks-us-to-suspend-biofuel-mandate/

U.S. drought continues to spread

Official news via US Department of Agriculture:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=DISASTER_ASSISTANCE&parentnav=DISASTER_SAFETY 

and NOAA http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/drought/

El Loco de la Catedral

Can you build a cathedral with nothing but recycled materials and faith?  Yes, but it's taken this crazy Spaniard 50 years and counting, God bless him!

Watch the film here:
http://www.cathedraljusto.com/thefilm.html

Lifehacker article roundup

More random and interesting stuff from the folks at Lifehacker...

Can you freeze avocado?  wine?  cake?  and what the heck is mirepoix?  Find the answers here:
http://lifehacker.com/5929588/can-i-freeze-it-how-to-extend-the-life-of-fruits-vegetables-and-other-perishables 

Build a bookcase-in-the-round with a repurposed cable spool:
http://lifehacker.com/5929946/repurpose-a-cable-spool-into-a-bookcase

And for those of us who love mason jars, here's how to turn one into a soap dispenser.
http://lifehacker.com/5929906/diy-mason-jar-soap-dispenser