Oh a late night last night at work it was… but at least it’s Friday now!!!
After I got home wayyy later than the norm, I still didn’t have a definitive dinner plan… busy day = no time to think about food = sad Steph 
I did, however, have a few ingredients that I knew I wanted to use up in the kitchen so it was time to get creative!
Like I said before, I must think I live during the Great Depression or something with the way I make sure nothing goes to waste 
Remember Sunday’s Eggplant Moussaka? Well there happened to be an overabundance of eggplant that needed using ASAP.
But I just wasn’t in the mood for your classic combo of eggplant and tomato…
Enter: canned clams.
Ahhh, I remember when I used to be a bit scared petrified? terrified? of these lil’ suckers… that was until I made this recipe and my whole was life turned upside down.
So here’s the dish I came up with after doing some online research… I’d call it a medley of many recipes all turned into a CookinFanatic style dish!
I’d also call it a tastebud surprise, because I must admit, my expectations were low. But this dish really came through and surprised me as a total winner! 
Cheesy, Buttery Eggplant & Clam Casserole
If you’re looking for a deliciously different way to use eggplant, seriously consider trying this ya’ll. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the wonderful combination of flavors.
And don’t worry – even though the recipe name uses “buttery”, there is only 2 tblsp in this whole dish and the flavor permeates throughout!
- 1 eggplant, peeled & cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 onions, diced
- 2 cloves garlic,chopped
- 1 can clams, partially drained
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups cubed bread (got an old loaf?)
- 1/3 block mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tblsp butter
- sea salt
- black pepper
Start with chopping up your eggplant and boiling (in salted water) for about 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside.
Next saute the onions in 1 tblsp butter for about 7 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic during the last minute or so. Don’t forget some black pepper too!
Next in go your partially drained clams plus the other 1 tblsp butter. Cook for another 5 minutes over medium.
At this point get all the other ingredients ready, including chopping the bread and shredding the cheese.
Spread a thin layer of butter in a baking dish (use the stick and rub a thin amount) and layer in the bread cubes.
Then add the cooked eggplant on top.
Next it’s time to assemble the clam “sauce.”
Stir in the flour and let soak into the clam, onion, garlic, butter mixture. Then stir in the milk until a thick and gorgeous sauce forms.
Turn down to medium low if things get too bubbly.
Now the luscious clam sauce gets draped over the bread and eggplant layer, partyyyyy time.
All finished off with a layer of shredded cheese!
Let this sit for 5 minutes so that the sauce will soak through to the bread cubes, then place into a 375F oven for 30 minutes or until the edges start to brown and bubble.
Oh the smell of butter and onions and garlic baking away in your kitchen will just make your mouth water! Or maybe that’s just me?
Let it cool for a few minutes and then dig in 
The bread soaks up all of the wonderful clam juice and luscious creamy sauce while also getting a lovely crisp against the buttered baking dish edges… oh this was such a warm and delicious treat!
Imagine: the texture of stuffing meets the flavor of these clam stuffed mushrooms then all draped with cheese. I mean, what’s not to like?
Like I said, expectations on this dish were low… but man oh man, did it excite those tastebuds!
Made this side of sugar snap peas seem a lil’ less exciting if you know what I’m sayin’
But definitely didn’t make this morning snack of another new Chobani flavor any less exciting!
Mango.
Surprisingly not my favorite fruit ever, but I really enjoyed both the flavor and texture of this new Cho flavor.
There were sweet, soft pieces of mango throughout without too much sweetness.
It wasn’t anything like I expected but I really liked it, more than I thought I would considering my feelings about mango! (feelings about mango? who says that?)
I’d go back for more… of both the eggplant casserole and the mango Chobani… that is all
TGIF!
