Instructions: Leave the skins on the eggplants, but trim off and discard the stems and navels. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Make slashes about 1 inch deep in their flesh on the cut sides and sprinkle them with salt. Place the halves cut sides down in a colander. Place the colander in the sink or over a dish and let stand so the bitter liquid drains out of the seeds, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat an oven to 375 degrees F. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Rinse the eggplant under cold water and pat dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, bread crumbs, oregano, parsley, the 1 tablespoon olive oil, and olives. Using your fingers, work as much of the mixture as you can into the slashes in the eggplant halves. Spread any remaining mixture on top of the eggplants. Place the eggplant halves cut sides up on the foil-lined sheet and drizzle generously with olive oil. Bake on the middle rack of the oven until completely tender when pierced. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley and then with salt and freshly milled black pepper.

Bake, uncovered, in an oven preheated to 400 degrees F until completely tender when pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Yield: 4 servings

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