Sgeek: "back when I was a kid & we had meatless Fridays, pasta ceci was a favorite dish... elbow macaroni with marinara sauce and chickpeas..."
I've only recently discovered the blessed combo of pulses with pasta (yes, I know, forgetting minestrone). Of course the Italians have been doing it for donks, but it's not the kind of food you often see promoted on telly / in mags - or if it is I've missed it somewhere.
As for aubergines, I tried growing these outdoors in a sunny concreted area. I actually grew aubergines! Not very many and not very large, but aubergines outside in the UK nonetheless. A Spanish variety, suited to cooler and damper climes: