Creepy Caponata

It looks:) like my favorite recipe has gotten a Halloween makeover! This will be added to my complete list of Healthy Raw Halloween Recipes.

Creepy Peepers Caponata

For creepy peepers:
eggplant globes, cut using a melon-baller
black olives
green pimento stuffed olives, these are probably not raw but look cute:)
pine nuts, for "maggots"
capers
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1 Recipe Raw Eggplant Caponata, recipe follows

Preparation:

1. Peel eggplant and create as many globes as desired for eyeballs. Use the un-seedy parts.

2. Cut slices from green olives, cut black olives in half lengthwise.

3. Apply olives to eggplant globe, securing with decorative picks if desired.

4. Prepare caponata using all scraps from any garnishes.

5. Plate caponata and garnish with eyeballs, capers, and pine nut "maggots".

I had this today with the cheezy tombstone crackers I recently made, but my caponata crisps recipe would be good too.

You can check out some of the comments on gone raw for the different ways people have eaten this caponata, without the creepy peepers, of course:)

I made myself laugh when I realized what I was drinking with this...kom-boooo-cha!!!

If you want a very quick decorating idea, simply make some chive and olive spiders, and cut out a few moon shapes from yellow pepper. For spiders, cross (like an "X") 4 chives approx. 2 inches long and top with half a black olive.

Here is my caponata recipe re-posted for convenience.

Raw Eggplant Caponata
makes about 6 cups

Ingredients:
1 medium eggplant,peeled, 1/4"dice approx 4 cups
1 cup tomato, 1/4" dice
1 sweet bell pepper, I used yellow today, 1/4" dice
1 celery stalk, 1/4" dice
¼ cup red onion,or more to taste, 1/4" dice
¼ cup olives of choice,I used a mix of green and black, 1/4" dice
2 tablespoon capers,optional, not raw
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Dressing:
½ cup sundried tomato, soaked... or use 1/4 cup fresh tomato and 1/4 cup dried
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons agave, or 2 soaked medjool dates
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 clove garlic, or more to taste
all organic if possible

Preparation:
1. Prepare dressing ingredients in magic bullet or blender.

2. Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl and mix well with dressing.

I love to use my vidalia chop wizard for cutting all the veggies quickly and uniformly:)

If you would like to reduce the amount of oil, replace with equal amount of tomato soak liquid:) .

Good right away or can be marinated several days in fridge. This keeps very well and almost gets better as it sits. I love it served at room temperature or warmed in the dehydrator:)

The liquid that forms after marinating may be mixed back in, or carefully poured off.
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This month has been so much fun for me! I have so many more ideas, but Halloween is next week! I would love to hear from anyone if there is something special you are looking for, like more kid ideas, or a main course, or anything. Please send me an e-mail with any suggestions. My contact info is on my profile here:) Thanks!