Summer corn and cherry tomato salad with eggplant or avocado

Adapted from a recipe in this month's Sunset Magazine to conform with local ingredients at the Belmont Farmer's Market and what I have in the garden. Because of the stronger flavor of lemon and wine vinegar this recipe could be used on corn available all summer.

Calderon Market had sweet corn for .50c each. They are now going as far as Martinez. The Asian vendors had gorgeous eggplants. Most vendors had fabulous sweet cherry tomatoes.

Three heads corn husked and rinsed. Place in the 7" round pot with lid and cook in the solar oven for one hour in the summer position.

Let cool then remove kernels by running a knife blade down the sides. Then scrape the back of the knife down the husk to remove any leftovers from the kernels.

Cut one small eggplant in half inch cubes and salt in a colander. Rinse after a half hour, and bake in the solar over for one hour without the lid on the pot. With the Solar Sport both steps can be combined. Skip this step if using avocado.

Cut half a basket cherry tomatoes in half.
Chop half a small red onion small.
If not using eggplant core one avocado in small pieces.
Julian a handful basil and parsley as available.
Combine in a serving bowl.

For the dressing
Juice of 1/4 lemon
equal part wine vinegar
two parts olive oil if using avocado. Three parts for eggplant.
Salt to taste.
Chile cayenne pepper to taste.

Whisk and toss in the serving bowl.
Why solar cook?

Cauliflower eggplant curry

At the Belmont Farmer's Market Calderon has most of the item, the table across has the rest.

Layer in the 7" round
One small cauliflower with flowerettes roughly removed.
One large tomato quartered (if you don't use a tomato squeeze half a lemon after the pot is cooked.)
One serrano chile cut in thin strips
One clove garlic chopped fine
one half inch ginger chopped fine
One small red onion cut in thin strips
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
two teaspoons cumin
Two large Japanese eggplants cut into one inch cubes
two teaspoons hot curry powder
two tablespoons Olive oil
salt to taste

Cook for two hours (longer after the fall equinox.) in the summer position. Top with a handful fine chopped cilantro and mix breaking up the now soft cauliflower and tomato (remove the skins which come right off) into small pieces.
Let sit for ten minutes covered before serving with rice.

Eggplant salad

One medium eggplant cut into one inch rounds. Salt and let sit in a colander for half an hour. Rinse and pat dry, lay on a small black tray, oil both sides with olive oil, and cook in the solar oven in the summer position for one hour.

Place the eggplant for five minutes on a hot gas BBQ until one side is burned but not charred. You can also do this by heating the tray over a stove.

Chop eggplant into 1/2 inch cubes after it has cooled.
1/4 pound romaine heart leaves
1 carrot diced
One large tomato cut into 1/2 inch cubes
One 6" sprig sweet basil, leaves and flowers removed, and then chopped rough.
Salt to taste.

Toss with two tablespoons olive oil and one tablespoon balsamic and one teaspoon white vine vinegar. And pepper to taste.

Serve with Ciabatta or equivalent bread.
Serves two for a meal or four as a salad.