Salad Cravings - Cajun Prawn Cesar

I commonly hear of people's cravings as being fried or sugary foods they should avoid rather than indulge.  I admit that sometimes mine would fall into that category.  Although believe it or not, I often crave things that would do me quite well and I should perhaps think to add to my menu more often.  The other night this was in the form of Cajun Prawn Cesar Salad.  Cesar dressing can often outdo french fries for saturated fat and caloies however, my healthy choice is a yogurt based one that I use on the side rather than drenching the taste of lettuce away.  I started with jumbo prawns, drizzled them with olive oil and added a little "Slap yo Mamma" Cajun seasoning.  A few minutes under the broiler, a quick flip and a few more minutes later "ta da".  Served on a bed of romaine, dressed with lemon juice, ciabatta croutons and fresh Parmesan cheese.  If you are looking for a meal that's easy and fantastic, look no further.  It was so yummy, I ate one for lunch the next day as well.  And for those who know me, this is saying a great deal! 

O Plantain, how do I love thee?

During my recent trip to Costa Rica I was again reminded of how much I enjoyed plantains.  It is not a common marketplace purchase here however, not as difficult to find as it once was.  So what do you do with this large ugly banana thing?  The possibilities are almost endless.  Bake, grill, pan-fry, deep-fry....  It can be eaten green or if you wait until it looks like something died and left its corpse behind it's pleasantly sweet.  More texture than its relative the common banana it can flavour your stew or stand alone as dessert. 

Visiting a restaurant on the outskirts of San Jose, their method of choice, as with all their food, was on the grill.  When this cheese covered, sweet delight arrived at our table, it shone despite the dated plastic plate it was served on.  Such a versatile ingredient it will be on my shopping list next time I'm out and about.  I will most likely stay away from deep-frying and grilling(still a little cold outside) but nothing says comfort food like a casserole dish lined with plantains and smothered with cream cheese.  I mean really, can you go wrong with cream cheese?