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!

the brunch that almost was...

I am back from vacation but I have soooo many photos and thoughts to sort through, we won't be able to talk about it today (and maybe not tomorrow either with unpacking and all).  I have something else to talk about.  I know you probably already know it's food.  It always comes down to that doesn't it?

While California was visiting me, we shuffled ourselves down the street to have quick nibble at the charming place that played host to her beautiful wedding and reception a few years back.

Wasn't it lucky for me she decided to get married at a resort about 5 minutes from my house?  I know right.  Especially with her living out of state and all.

So, you walk past the adorable umbrella covered patio and into a foyer to ask for a table.  You know things look promising when you look up and see this...

Something you should know about me and my very dear friend.  We talk. We talk and talk and talk.  We  talk over each other and around each other and in between we laugh and eat.  You know what else happens when we sit down?  I put my camera down and forget to pick it back up again!  So sorry to tease you this way.  I wasn't even going to show you these but they are a good set up to my brunch post coming up in just a bit...love ya, kiss kiss, hug hug.