rain, a raccoon and eggplant

Hi there, Reader,

I have to tell you about family dinner this past Sunday.

As the first cars were pulling in, it started pouring. Not a light rain, a real downpour. The baby was on her way with my daughter-in-law who braved Chicago traffic, in the middle of it all, someone spotted a raccoon stuck in the gutter across the street, and then...the power went out.

Mayhem. Actual mayhem.

I had eggplant roasting in the oven for roasted eggplant salad, more of it waiting to go on the grill. Both plans died the second that power flickered off. So I pulled out a pan, got it going on the stovetop, and sautéed eggplant with a splash of balsamic at the end. This is when I appreciate my gas stove.

Of course, none of it really mattered. The kids all brought amazing appetizers and my sister two ice cream cakes! We still laughed, cousins made fun of cousins and lots of chatter about the upcoming wedding. We facetimed my mom because it would have been my parents 63rd wedding anniversary. And by all accounts, the raccoon got himself out eventually too.

Oh and the power came back on just as everyone was leaving almost 4 hours later.

p.s. If you've got extra eggplant sitting around this week, my eggplant fries in the air fryer are so worth the very small amount effort.

...talk soon, Reader