Eggplant Pizza Casserole

Hey there! Guess what, finishing school is actually more stressful than being in school. At least it is right now. In school there's a set order of how and when to do things, help when you need it (and when you don't), camaraderie of all being in the same dazed state after being repeatedly hit over the head with papers and exams, and other people giving you deadlines. Oh, and people are obligated to see that you succeed. That's not to say they will pass you in a class even though you didn't learn anything, but rather that you are to be given all the help you ask for. When you're searching for a job no body is obliged to give you anything. You're not guaranteed an interviews just because you completed your application on time. It is a strange new world out there folks. But I'm bumbling my way through it.

And what is one of the best ways of distressing? Eating chocolate! Uh... I mean cooking. So here is my latest way to try to consume as much pizza as possible while still remaining at least somewhat healthy.

Ingredients:
2 large eggplants
1 lb mozzarella
1 1/2 cups of marinara (I didn't actually have any so I used tomato paste thinned with an equal amount of water)
1 15-ounce can of black olives
1 15-ounce can of artichoke hearts
1 lb. (ish) pepperoni
Olive oil for brushing the eggplant

 Slice the eggplant lengthwise at about a 1/4 inch thick. Lightly brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and place them on baking sheets.

 Bake the eggplant at 345º F for 30 minutes flipping them halfway through. The tops should be mostly dry when you're done.

 While the eggplant is cooking grate the mozzarella.

 Prepare the marinara.

 Slice the olives and artichoke hearts.

 Layer all the ingredients in a oven safe 9"x13" pan with the eggplant slices on the bottom then everything else in the usual order.

 I had enough to make two complete layers.

 Place the whole thing in the oven which is still at 345º F (I just left it on as I was assembling the casserole) and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until everything is warm and the cheese is melted.

 Eat with gusto!