Grew up with mom fixing eggplant by slicing, dipping in egg, then in bread crumbs and baking. Recently tried a ratatullie (spelling) option...... Eggplant, summer squash, tomatoes, Italian seasoning and simmered. Yum.
First, I am in TX (think triple digit days day after day after day) with NO A/C. Outside of just putting the starter into the fridge for the summer. And winter....... Can see MINUS 4 with just wood heat in a virtually uninsulated place........ I guess I am saying handling extremes. Also...... Lot's of uses for discard.
This year, I had a huge crop of wild lettuce. I had some help (was hoping on gathering seed -- but here in TX they went to seed almost overnight and all the seeds fell...... Sigh) that tried it. Some folks would be out of pain within minutes. One of my dairy goats came in limping real bad (wonderful test!) and we gave her a couple/few leaves. When we sent them out of the barn she was not limping! Also make a tincture. Some say it works. I have a hard time noticing anything at times to work (I have a lot of pain 24/7). One gal got a sticker in her finger. Put some of the white milk from the wild lettuce on her finger and her husband was then able to remove it. She said it numbed the finger reducing the pain by about 80-90%.