Eggplant is in season and it's quite abundant at all of the farmers' markets. This time of year they're plump and firm and perfect! The eggplant (aka aubergine) is a member of the nightshade family. They're very filling, supply few calories and contain virtually no fat. Their meaty texture makes eggplant a wonderful vegetarian main-dish choice.  When shopping, look for a well-rounded eggplant with a smooth and uniformly colored skin. Tan patches, scars or bruises on the skin indicate decay which will appear as discolorations in the flesh beneath. A good eggplant will feel fairly heavy, a light one may be woody. A medium-sized eggplant, 3 to 6-inches in diameter, is likely to be young, sweet and tender. Be sure to cook eggplant in a glass baking dish. Aluminum pans will cause them to discolor.

In this week's issue, I've teamed with L.A. Plume to share our entertaining ideas. Ms. Plume is imparting her wisdom with regard to entertaining etiquette and I'm providing the recipes! Believe it or not, when Vince and I have a rare weekend off we almost always invite friends to our house for dinner or hors d'oeuvres. Even though in most cases, our unsuspecting pals are guinea pigs for tasting my new recipes, it's always a lot of fun! My favorite way to entertain is simple and stress-free. The hosts get to have as much fun as (if not more than) the guests.

 True barbeque fighting is not for the faint-of-heart! It's a never-ending battle. Which is best – eastern North Carolina vinegar and pepper, western North Carolina tomato sauce or South Carolina spicy mustard sauce? Folks with an opinion on the matter are dead set in their ways. Don't waste your breath on the discussion. Over the years I've had to listen to other people's thoughts on the subject, even when I happen to know for a fact that vinegar and pepper is the only way to cook pork barbeque. The best thing too do when you find yourself in the middle of a barbeque argument is to keep your mouth shut and smile. Still, everyone will agree that pork barbeque is mighty fine eating! One of the great things about pork barbeque is that it's not fancy food.