Baked Eggplant Appetizer
 
1  large Eggplant      
            Olive oil      
1  large    Onion -- peeled & quartered      
3  Garlic cloves -- unpeeled      
1  Red bell pepper -- - halved and seeded      
1  teaspoon    Oregano -- chopped      
2  teaspoons    Lemon juice      
1  tablespoon    Olive oil      
1/8 teaspoon    Each salt and pepper      
4  ounces    Feta cheese -- crumbled      
2  tablespoons    Parsley -- chopped
Pita bread or crackers

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Halve eggplant lengthwise. Brush all sides with olive oil. Place halves cut-side down on a baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes. Brush onion, garlic and red pepper with oil; add to eggplant. Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender.

Cool eggplant; scoop out flesh and place in a food processor or wooden bowl.

Squeeze garlic pulp from skins, peel red pepper, and add to eggplant along with onion, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Process or finely chop by hand. Do not puree. Mix in 3 oz. of the feta cheese.

Spoon mixture into a serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining feta cheese around the edge of mixture; mound parsley in the center. Serve with pita bread or crackers.

Super Bowl party appetizer ideas

A few Super Bowl appetizer ideas to help you fuel up for the 6:30 p.m. kick-off.

Spinach, Lots of Flavor and Great As Side Dish or Appetizer

Cheese is the perfect companion to spinach.

Roll ups with hummus, roasted red peppers, fresh spinach and Muenster cheese

Chef Dan Eaton makes a vegetarian party appetizer by using spinach tortilla wraps to make sliced roll ups with hummus, roasted red peppers, fresh spinach and Muenster cheese.

Elegant Cheesy Spinach Cakes

Sprinkle a bit of Romano or Parmesan on top and serve warm

Seasonal Eats: Time for Spinach!

Spinach isn't necessarily a winter green, but in temperate winter areas like southern California, we get to enjoy it now. The spinach above is an heirloom variety that is quite toothy and probably best steamed or sautéed, but we also have sellers at the Hollywood Farmer's Market who specialize in young leafy varieties that are great for salads. [ more › ]