5.10.2010

sunday brunch at my house...

I'm so glad you came back.  I thought you might still be mad from the last post.  No?  Good.  We have a great Cuban place down the street.  Again, I'm surrounded by fab little restaurants.  They recently starting serving breakfast so we stopped in.


Nothing too fancy schmancy.  Seriously, the patio is kind of in the parking lot and it is on a busy street.  We don't care - we were there for the grub.  See what's on the front of Andrew Henry's plate down there.  It kind of looks like a potato pancake.  It isn't.  No my friend, it is not.  It is a fried plantain and I'm here to tell you......they rock.


They inspired what I cooked for brunch at my house the following Sunday.  Won't you pull up a chair and join us?

First, peel and chop up a yam (trust me), then steam them...(see that blur in the middle - it's steam)


While they're steaming, chop up some onions and bell peppers like this...


Grab a little of this...

 and throw it all in a frying pan (cast iron is best) on a low flame for the rest of the time it takes you to finish cooking eveything else.  Easy peasy no?  I just give them a little stir every once in a while.  Crispy browning is good. 

When they finish up they look like this...


Sooooo good.  Now slice up some good bread for Andrew Henry to have toast, feel a pang of jealousy, smell the bread and move on...


Chop up some good for you avocado, tomato and figs to go on top of the leek and goat cheese frittata you forgot to take photos of (sorry guys, it's gets hectic in there)...


Now for the inspiration.  I had no idea how to do those plantains.  I peeled them, sliced them down the center and put them in a frying pan with a touch of olive oil. 


"Come to momma" is all I have to say. 

Now throw it all on a plate and sit down.  You'll have to play cribbage as well because that's how we roll.  The 2010 tournament is still going on.  I won't brag about who's winning.


Don't forget the secret sauce.  Back in February, when I told you we put it on everything, I wasn't kidding.  It just, ahhhh, it just............you know...............makes it.

Thanks for joining us for a gluten-free brunch at Pagoda - come back anytime!

11 comments:

D&D said...

you had me at olive bread.
DELICIOUS

Claire Kiefer said...

I LOVE PLANTAINS!!! So delicious! This Senegalese restaurant in San Francisco has the most incredible fried plantains with a tamarind sauce . . . I can't get enough!

Beatnheart said...

Damn, I just ate and now I'm hungry again....it all looks great..You seem to be an amazing cook..I wanna come over and eat.

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Anytime Cynthia! Though, I just finished a yogurt with a handful of almonds for lunch, not always glam over here (gluten-free piece of toast for breakfast).

Claire, that sounds DIVINE!

D&D - I would kill for a piece of good gluten-free olive bread!

Andrew H. said...

I seriously just started to salivate. No joke.

pamela said...

looks delicious!! i love plantains but have never cooked them myself. i can't wait to go to el cholo during the holidays because they serve them on tamales with mole sauce. yummy! i know people smash them a little with a little press before they cook them. just seen it. should try it!

KC said...

I can't believe you made this meal in your home, for just your family, no company or anything? I would never taste a plantain at a restaurant and think "I could do this at home". I was glad to see your comment about eating yogurt and almonds for lunch. Makes you seem more human. Tell me you at least ate it out of the container!

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

Looks so delicious,and I'm not saying that just because I'm hungry!

KR said...

I've had lunch (veggie lasagne, made by my sis, who also likes to cook, yummy!) Now getting ready to prepare dinner. Nothing half so mouth-watering as your repast! I'm not going to eat what I am cooking for dinner! Just couldn't after seeing your pics!

MaiPie said...

Two things... 1. You opened my world to yams...now I know two dishes to make with them! 2. oh.my.goodnes.best.caramel.corn.ever. 3. (I know I said two) The PLANTAINS!!!!!!!

Maria said...

reservation for two please - with a sitter/entertainer for the boys...:-D