Stacked Fried Green Tomato with Plantains & Colossal Crab Meat

Happy Birthday to me.  Today I turn 89.  I feel amazing at my advanced age.

The avalanche of Birthday wishes on Facebook was awesome.  I appreciate it more than I could properly articulate.  Thank you, Thank you!

I got my first present today in the form of a blogger award from a special lady.  Shirley from Shirley's Luxury Haven is a fun, positive, engaging person.  She has a cool icon on her profile that proudly proclaims "I have a black belt in shopping!"  I think she needs to receive her black belt in cooking and blogging as well.  She is very active on Facebook.  Please check her cool blog out.  You will thank me later.  Thanks Shirley!

As I said yesterday, anyone reading this, take this award and pass it along to someone who's made an impact in your blogging adventure.  No Rules, just right! 

I would like to spotlight 3 fantastic bloggers.  Versatile for sure. These ladies are truly amazing.

Faith from An Edible Mosaic - Faith cooks great food.  She takes awesome photos.  And is incredibly supportive.  What more could you want in a blogger?

Vanessa from Coffee and Pie - To say that Vanessa writes well is a disservice.  She is a magician with words.  Her introspective narratives are some of the best reading on the internet.  Anywhere.  And her photos...you'll just have to click over to find out.  Look, if she didn't live so damn far, I would have her shoot my food!

Marisa from Cook's Book- Marisa is another fabulous writer.  Her food is great and in combination with her writing, magnificent.  The New York Newspaper Newsday just profiled her.  Enough said.

Welcome to Alex Cooks! 

When I realized that the 21st was on a Thursday I knew I would need a guest poster on my special day.  I automatically thought of my little Brother Alex.  Maybe you remember him from A Hero is Born. 

Alex is a proud papa, firefighter, paramedic, scholar and a gentlemen.  He's a good guy!  Everyone loves Alex.  I am the (dick) difficult guy of the family, he's the (guataca) nice guy.

Beyond all of that, he is one badass cook.  Not quite as badass as big bro' but pretty damn good.  Look at that dish.  I am quite impressed with the presentation, he's my brother indeed.

I am off to devour my Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake that The Lawyer got me.

Enjoy...

I am extremely excited about having the opportunity to guest post on my talented brother’s blog. Yes I am the aspiring firefighter/ paramedic and brother to the lawyer’s husband. I would like to take the time to wish him a Happy Birthday, the big 89.


My brother & I share a passion for food. I love to cook and create meals for people to enjoy, & I love to eat! Although I enjoy cooking I am no where near the level that my brother is at. His passion and love for cooking has really impressed me and I am very happy for what he has accomplished. I am very fortunate to have him as a teacher and reference point whenever I have a question.

I have cooked up a fun & tasty recipe for an appetizer that is sure to knock your socks off...whatever that means.

Stacked Fried Green Tomato with Plantains & Colossal Crab Meat

3 small green tomatoes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup Italian style panko bread crumbs
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup colossal size blue crab meat
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup thinly sliced red pepper
1 small shallot thinly sliced
salt & pepper to taste
1 large green plantain
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 1/2 cups canola oil for frying
1 cup green onions chopped

Editor's Note - Loving the Mise en Place shot

1. Peel plantain of the skin & cut into 2 inch pieces, set aside.

2. Peel the tomatoes with a veggie peeler & slice into 1/2 inch thick.

3. Coat the tomato slices in flour, then egg, then panko bread crumbs, set aside.

4. Heat the canola oil in the pan. Fry the plantains on both sides until golden.

5. Using the back of a small plate on a cutting board, flatten the fried plantain pieces one by one& refry them until golden & crispy. Set aside.

6. Now fry the tomatoes on both sides until crisp.

7. Season with salt & pepper.

8. Lay the tomato slices on a baking pan & top with crab meat.

9. Broil for 2 minutes.

10. Stack a fried plantain on each stack. Then follow with more crab and top with another fried tomato.

11. Toss the red onion, shallots, red pepper, olive oil, cilantro, balsamic vinegar, & rice vinegar together & set aside.

12. Place the tomato & plantain stack on a plate & top with the salad.

13. Garnish the dish with green onions & a couple pieces of colossal crab meat.

As Laz would say...

That's it for now...till we exchange a few words again...Peace!