Gwyneth Cooks Good Roast

It's true what your mother says, every girl should know how to cook. Doesn't matter if you have a family of four or a dinner party at six, every girl should really know how to cook. And you should know how to cook a good, quick roast. I learned when I was thirteen, at that ripe age when both parents were working. Looking back and watching Gwyn, a roast is not that hard. A 13 year old girl can make a quick roast, so can you.

Gwyneth Gives Good Parmesan. Goop.

"One of my dearest friends in the world is an Italian gentleman by the name of Giancarlo Giametti. He is the longtime friend and partner of fashion legend Valentino Garavani, another dear friend. Giancarlo lives in incredible style – I’ve never seen the likes of it. GG, as he is affectionately known, has an amazingly talented chef who makes rustic Italian food to die for. I asked Pablo to let us into his kitchen to share my three favorite dishes, the ones that can get me over there on the darkest and rainiest of London nights."

Buon Appetito!
Gwyneth


SERVES: 4
TIME: 1 hour

4 small eggplants (about 2 1/2" in diameter) or 3 regular eggplants
Coarse salt
1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
Olive oil
2/3 cup of your favorite tomato sauce*
1 large ball fresh mozzarella (about 4 1/2 ounces)
Small handful of basil leaves, roughly torn
3/4 cup finely grated parmesan (about 2 ounces)
Slice the eggplants into about 1/3" discs. Sprinkle slices with a small pinch of coarse salt on each side and place in a single layer between two clean kitchen towels. Place a cookie sheet on top and weigh down with something heavy (a few cans of beans or tomatoes will do). Let the eggplant sit for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Lightly dredge the eggplant slices in the flour. Heat 1/4" of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. When a pinch of flour sizzles on contact, add the eggplant slices in a single layer, turn the heat to medium-high and cook for about one and a half minutes on each side or until dark golden brown. Drain the eggplant on paper towels and repeat in batches until all of your eggplant is cooked, adding more oil as necessary.

In a 13" x 9" baking dish, arrange as many slices of eggplant as can fit snugly in a single layer. Top each slice with a small spoonful of tomato sauce, a few small pieces of torn mozzarella, a bit of basil and a dusting of parmesan. Continue the layers, evenly distributing all the ingredients, until everything is used up.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is melting and bubbling and the house smells divine.

*For my simple homemade, never-fail tomato sauce that's always in my fridge...
In a large saucepan, slowly cook six cloves of thinly sliced garlic in a couple tablespoons of olive oil for five minutes over low heat. Add two large, fresh basil leaves and stir for a minute. Add two 28-ounce cans of whole, peeled tomatoes along with their juice and two more whole basil leaves. Bring the sauce to a boil, turn down the heat, season with salt and pepper and let it bubble away on low heat for 45 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.

Check Goop.com for other recipes and newsletter.

Goop's Say Say Oh Frenemy...

"Frenemy" (sometimes spelled "frienemy") is a portmanteau of "friend" and "enemy" which can refer to either an enemy disguised as a friend or to a partner who is simultaneously a competitor.



Next week Gwyn willl show us how to make a light and "delish" meal of Italian-inspired small plates for stress-free entertaining. I'll be there.

Gwyneth's Spring 'Get' Is Your To-Do

It's quite obvious that Gwyn and I subscribe to the same method; Harper's Bazaar, Elle and Vogue. Gwyn's spring-cleaning is going to benefit some real good people. You can bid or buy some of Gwyn's old Stella McCartney's and such on eBay. All proceeds go to a great charity, the Robin Hood Foundation.
*sizes run 4-6 and 8.5-9 in shoes

The Goop that everyone is talking about is the Spring's Get:

Gwyneth Says Go F*** Yourself ...

Okay, not in those exact words. But, in the March issue of Elle UK, she lets out a little bitty steam. Why not, it's only print.

“I am who I am. I can’t pretend to be somebody who makes £15,000 a year. That would be completely inauthentic. I know what my intention [with her email newsletter Goop] is – and if it makes one person’s life better, then it’s worth it. And f**k the haters!” - Gwyneth Paltrow

Yeah, f**k the lot of 'em! I totally love her turkey meatballs recipe.

Gwyneth Says GET ...

Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, GOOP, is something that I look forward to every week. In this week's 'GET', Gwyneth features some of her favorite "uniform" looks that fit her lifestyle as a working mother and celebrity.


The Sheath Dress - It's Fashion 101, you learn about the sheath dress right after your official bra and pair of high heels. The sheath dress is for every occasion, day or night.


The Sheath Dress, Day Look - Here, Gwyneth just mixes it up with a chunky belt and great tartan boots.

The Knee-length Dress - Such an essential for last minute business meetings and it's a throw-on that goes with a great pair of heeled shoes and simple jewelry.


The Sweater Dress - There's something about a sweater dress and tights that gives off the most luxurious and sexy feeling for a girl. It's feminine and cozy.


The Mini Dress - Gwyneth said that it's the valuable purchase a mother makes just so she can pass on to her daughter in years to come. Classic and worth the keep.