Aunt Aileen S Ratatouille Food

DISNEY'S RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Spread tomato paste into the bottom of a 10x10-inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle with onion and garlic and stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil and water until thoroughly combined.
• Season with salt and black pepper.
• Arrange alternating slices of eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper, starting at the outer edge of the dish and working concentrically towards the center.
• Overlap the slices a little to display the colors.
• Drizzle the vegetables with 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
• Sprinkle with basil and thyme leaves.
• Cover vegetables with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit inside.
• Bake in the preheated oven until vegetables are roasted and tender, about 45 minutes.
• Serve with dollops of mascarpone cheese.

AUNT AILEEN'S POUND CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350* Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and salt. Keep mixing until mixture is beginning to looked whipped.
• 2. Add flour and baking powder to mixture 1/2 cup at a time.
• 3. Grease and flour a tube pan. Pour cake batter into greased and floured pan. Shake it a little to make sure it is even in the pan then pick it up a few inches off the counter (2 or 3 inches) and drop it back onto the counter three or four times. (Gets rid of air bubbles for more even baking.) Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. (A bunt pan can be used and Baker's Joy can also be used.)

AUNT AILEEN'S RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Cook sausage links and set aside.
• Using 2 skillets heat 2 T. olive oil in each.
• Place 1/2 the onions, garlic and red and green peppers into each skillet.
• Stir-fry the vegetables for 2 to 3 minute.
• Remove one skillet from heat.
• Add the eggplant to the remaining skillet and stir-fry the eggplant for 3 minutes.
• Return second skillet to heat; add sliced zucchini and stir-fry 1 minute.
• Season contents of both skillets with bay leaf, parsley, basil, thyme, salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Slice the Italian sausage and add some to each skillet, along with a portion of cubed tomatoes.
• Spoon portions from both skillets into individual ovenproof dishes.
• Top with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 15 minute or until cheese is hot and bubbly.
• Serve with hot French bread.