Eggplant, Coffee Cake and Sausages

DEAR SOS: How about trying to get the Musso & Frank Grill people to part with their recipe for fried eggplant? It’s great.

--CHARLES

DEAR CHARLES: You can say that again. And it’s easy to make.

MUSSO & FRANK GRILL FRIED EGGPLANT

1 (1-pound) medium-large or 6 small Italian eggplants

1/2 cup milk, about

1/2 cup flour, about

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 egg

2 cups fresh bread crumbs

Oil

Peel eggplant and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices. Place milk in bowl. Mix flour, salt and pepper in another dish. Beat egg in another bowl.

Dip each eggplant slice in milk, then in flour mixture. Dip in beaten egg and coat evenly but lightly with bread crumbs.

Add oil to come 1-inch up in pan. Heat to 350 degrees. Drop eggplant slices into medium-hot oil (do not crowd pan) and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Keep warm in 300-degree oven while frying remaining. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

DEAR SOS: I’m hoping that one of your many readers will be able to help in my search for a coffee cake made by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

--RITA

DEAR RITA: Here’s the coffee cake for a cozy kaffeeklatsch.

SCHOOL DISTRICT COFFEE CAKE

4 cups flour

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

1 1/2 cups oil

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder

3 large eggs

2 cups buttermilk

Combine flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, nutmeg, walnuts and oil in large bowl. Mix until crumbly. Remove 1 1/2 cups mixture, stir in cinnamon and set aside.

Combine remaining crumb mixture with baking soda, baking powder, eggs and buttermilk. Blend gently. Do not over-mix. Pour into 2 greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pans. Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumb topping. Bake at 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool slightly. Cut into squares to serve. Makes 24 servings.

DEAR SOS: Could you please reprint Frank Sinatra’s recipe for sausage and peppers? It’s delicious.

--ANNE

DEAR ANNE: We’ve had the recipe for a while and still enjoy sharing it, as must Sinatra.

FRANK SINATRA’S SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS

3 green peppers

3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt, pepper

1 pound hot Italian Sausages

1/3 cup red wine

Remove stems and seeds from green peppers and cut into large chunks. Heat oil in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Saute green peppers in oil until tender-crisp. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove green peppers and set aside.

Brown sausages in same skillet. Add red wine. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees 40 minutes or until done.

Uncover and add sauteed green peppers. Bake additional 30 minutes and serve in same baking dish. Makes 4 servings.