Judy Bolton wrote:

Eggplant Boats

1. 2 eggplants, halved lengthwise
2. 3/4 pound ground beef
3. 1 onion, chopped
4. 2 tomatoes, 1 diced and 1 sliced, divided
5. 1/3 cup chopped parsley
6. Salt and freshly ground black pepper
7. 4 long, mild peppers, thickly sliced, such as Italian frying peppers, or 1
8. sliced bell pepper
9. Cooked rice, to serve
10. Tomato sauce, to serve

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the eggplant halves cut side down on an oiled, rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in its own fat in a large, heavy skillet. Add th

onions, and saute for a few minutes, until soft. Add the diced tomatoes and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir and set aside.

Using a wide spatula so the eggplant doesn't break, turn them over. Scoop out the centers with a spoon to form a boat, being careful not to scoop too deep and tear the shell. Roughly chop the eggplant you have removed, and add it to the meat mixture. Fill the eggplant boats with the beef mixture, then top with pepper and tomato slices. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Pour 1 cup water around the eggplants, and bake for about 20 minutes, until warm. Serve with rice and tomato sauce.