Joanna Carino turns senior citizen

PARTIES and food everywhere. Joanna Cariño turns senior citizen! She taught us a lesson on how to throw a party without really trying.

Store bought pancit. Store bought chopsuey. Store bought ham. Store bought lomi. Cook rice and you're done. Buy watermelon, buy grilled tuna off the rack, buy cookies and ice cream for dessert, et viola! You have a party.

Carino celebrated her entry into sixty hood and my goodness did she have a crowd. In her guest list: Gerry Fiag-oy, Luchi Maranan, Linda Cariño, Jessica Cleto, Alan Nettleton, Louise Coventry, Maureen Loste, Manny Loste, Jill Tauli, Steve Tauli, Judy and Ray.

Josie Castro Dominguez, former congresswoman and governor, did the same thing. She had her party catered by Rene Columna. There was a very nice dish; Eggplant lasagna. Mrs. Dominguez had two very welcome guests in the persons of Annie Lukban and Luz Gaerlan Lopez. These two ladies have come to Baguio to ask and to tell people about the Cenacle, a group that meets to join in prayer devotions every time they feel like it. These devotions should not last more than one hour. And the devotions are usually an Invocation, a recitation of the Rosary and fraternal sharing of thoughts. Then they end with a Consecration and a hymn to the BVM. They meet anywhere, as long as you are not alone. Two people will do.

On the catered menu was the not ordinarily had eggplant lasagna. To duplicate this you will need:

1. 1 package of lasagna noodles, boiled al dente and ready to lay on the pan.

2. 3 cups of a good spaghetti sauce.

3. A kilo of eggplant, sliced 3/4 inch thick and fried in butter or cooking oil and drained of excess oil.

4. 350 grams of a cheese of your choice, grated

5. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon finely chopped basil

6. 1 tablespoon of minced garlic

7. 1/2 cup chopped onions

8. Salt and pepper to taste.

9. 2 tablespoons of cooking oil

The procedure

Heat your pan and put the cooking oil. Brown garlic and saute onions until translucent. Put in all the herbs. When onions are done, put in your spaghetti sauce. Now get your lasagna pan and put a layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom. Cover the pan with the first layer of noodles, followed by layer of cooked eggplant. Salt and pepper. Sprinkle with1/4 of your grated cheese. Spread again with sauce, noodles, and eggplant, salt and pepper. Repeat until all ingredients are used. End with the cheese, the last 1/4 cup.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 minutes or until bubbly. When done cool slightly for 20 minutes. You may then serve the lasagna as a merienda or as a side dish to your entree.

Your choice of dessert could be fresh mangoes. They are so many in the market that it seems a shame not to take advantage of its plentifulness.

Enjoy your meal.

BON APPETIT.