2.  Place flour and salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Pat eggplant slices
     dry and dip each slice on both sides into the flour. Preheat oven to 400
     degrees F.

3.  Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a skillet and fry the eggplant slices for 6
     minutes, turning once. Add more oil to finish frying all slices. Drain on
     paper towels.

4.  Cook the onion and garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil for just 2-3 minutes. Finely
     dice the tomatoes and add. Add the basil, bay leaves, thyme and 2
     tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Press down on tomatoes to
     cook down in pan. Cook for 10 minutes over low to medium heat, add a
     little water if becomes too dry while cooking. Remove from heat.

5.  Make meat patties. Combine ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, and
     parsley with fork. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Shape into
     8 flat patties. Heat about 2 tbsp olive oil and cook the patties for 3-4
     minutes on each side.

6.  Slice the cheese and slice the hard boild eggs. Set aside.

7.  Pour about two laddles of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9" x 13"
     baking dish. Place half the eggplant slice in the bottom on the sauce.
     Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Now layer the beef patties,
     cheese slices, and then the egg slices. Pour about two laddles of
     tomato sauce on top. Layer the remaining eggplant slices. Sprinkle
     with Parmesan and pour 3 laddles of sauce over the top. Save the
     remaining sauce for serving time. Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

8.  Remove from oven and allow to set for 5 minutes. Cut into squares and
     place on individual plates. Spoon warmed tomato sauce over each
     square and garnish with chopped parsley and grated cheese. Enjoy
     this Southern Italian favorite. It is a hearty, flavorful main meal similar to
     Eggplant Parmesan.