Baked Plantain Chips

A few months ago I had my first taste of Plantain Chips, when NatureBox sent me some snacks to review.  I loved having them at the house so I could munch on something (yummy and healthy) while I was cooking dinner and was sad to finish off the bag.

Last weekend I decided it was time for some more chips, so I purchased several plantains, grabbed my trusty mandolin, and got to work!  These chips are super crispy, just salty enough, and only use three ingredients.  They're also 1,000 times (maybe I'm exaggerating...) healthier than regular chips, so you don't have to feel bad while enjoying them.

I decided to make chips out of 5 plantains so we'd have some for a while.  By the end of the cooking process, we only had 4 plantains-worth left.  :)

Tip - use plantains that are more green than ripe - they hold up better during the slicing/flipping stage!

Ingredients
1 plantain
1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
Salt

Directions
Using a mandolin, thinly slice each plantain.  (Be careful of your fingers!)  Transfer sliced plantains to a bowl and cover with 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil.

Lay plantain chips in a single layer on a Silpat mat.  Sprinkle with salt.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until edges brown, flipping plantain chips over halfway through.  If your plantains are thicker, they will take longer to bake.

Transfer to a plate and let cool.  Store in an airtight container when not snacking!  They last for just a few days, so eat up!

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Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Most days I end up eating Cheerios from a plastic bag at work for breakfast.  Eating the same thing every day can get pretty boring and really makes me appreciate hot breakfasts even more.  One of my favorite things to make is a Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole.  In addition to being really easy to whip up, you can make it the night before and refrigerate, so there's no need to get up extra early to prep!

When I heard we were having a "Breakfast with Oscar" party this past Sunday, I knew exactly what I was going to bring.  This recipe came from my fabulous mother-in-law's arsenal of go-to breakfasts, but I'm not sure of its origins before that.  Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

6 slices of bread
1 pound sausage (I used Jimmy Dean)
6 eggs
1 can Carnation Evaporated Milk
Salt & Pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese (about 2.5 cups)
Large Pyrex dish

Directions

Cut slices of bread into cubes and cover the bottom of your Pyrex dish.

Brown and drain sausage, then sprinkle over the bread.

Mix eggs, evaporated milk, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  Then pour evenly over bread and sausage.

Then give the entire dish a generous sprinkle of cheese - I used about 2.5 cups.

Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour (or overnight).  Bake at 375 F for 25-30 minutes, then let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

You can also make this weeks in advance and freeze (before cooking) for later!  You're gonna love it!

Favorite Blogs of the Week

Happy Saturday!  Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!  I'm excited for a fun dinner with some friends at a super swanky restaurant, 80 Thoreau, tonight.

Without further ado, here are a few of my favorite blogs from the week.

Awesome food blogger and friend, Emily at Emylogus, posted a recipe for Brazilian Cheese Bread that made my mouth water.  This recipe also uses tapioca flour, so it's gluten free!

Get the recipe

This recipe from Iowa Girl Eats is seriously one of the most delicious looking meals ever.  Avocado, Mozerella and Bruschetta Chicken topped with a Balsamic Glaze - omg.  As soon as husband gets back from Florida...it's on the menu.

Seriously...don't you feel the need to make this NOW?

Everyday Occasions is hosting a Valentine's Day dinner for her friends (how sweet!) and has been brainstorming table settings.  I love what she's put together for the dinner party - soft fabrics (napkins, pillows, blankets, chairs), footed glassware, and a beautiful flower arrangement!

Maybe she'll invite me?  

These Strawberry Bars would be an awesome Valentine treat...and you've gotta love Valentine's Day food that isn't chocolate covered strawberries or cupcakes.  :)  (But if you want to see some Valentine's Day cupcakes...you can check these out!)

Strawberry sweets

Eating Bird Food posts the most amazing looking salads.  My favorite this week is her Cabbage, Carrot, and Apple Salad with a Tahini Dressing.  Love a salad without the traditional lettuce base!

And finally, here's a heartwarming  crazy story about bad Boston drivers.  Someone drove their car onto the T (our subway) tracks and got stuck.  This happened right in front of my office on Beacon Street in Brookline.  If you know where this is, you know 1) it's pretty obvious this isn't a road, and 2) she got pretty far down the tracks before her car got stuck.  Quite impressive.

Hint: sometimes the GPS is wrong......

See you Monday!