Massive Meal, Massive Post! Chayote, Explored. (Video included!)

This past week was my birthday and my awesome friend and follower of my blog, Liz, gave me plates!!!


Such a thoughtful birthday gift!! While my title is no longer relevant, I am still One Plate Wonder in spirit. And I still have a tiny kitchen where the plate doesn't even fully fit on the counter. So, here is a big, birthday post from One Plate Wonder.

I recently visited my friend in Boston who had just come back from Costa Rica. She recommended Chayote and pointed it out in the market. So when I saw it in Whole Foods, I picked it up and decided to give it a try. All I knew was that it was from Costa Rica, so I started to research. I found out that it is a squash cooked by boiling then peeling. Now, I know Costa Rica is in Central America. I am not too familiar with where certain foods come from as I have not traveled much, but I do associate it with South of the Border/South America, so I tried to go for those flavors. This is the chayote.


The full explanation of the dish is in the video interview below (an exclusive interview with One Plate Wonder herself interviewed by my sister). Here is the description I may put on the menu of a restaurant (if anyone wants to put it on a menu I am happy to sell it because I am definitely short on cash at the moment): A melange of mushrooms and chayote atop a bed of sauteed swiss chard above spiced polenta patties, topped with avocado.

I started prepping the chayote and while that was going on, I sauteed onion and garlic then added cremini mushrooms. When the chayote was ready I added that to the mix with some paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder.

Next I heated black beans and added the mushroom and chayote mixture.

While that was heating, I sauteed the swiss chard and started pan frying the polenta patties. But the polenta patties were getting oily so I baked them.


Then it was time for plating.


I started with the polenta.



Then I added the swiss chard and, on top of that, the mushroom, bean and chayote mixture.

Finally I added avocado and lime juice on top.



I made a plate for my sister now that I have SO many plates.


And yes, we both squeeze onto this little table to eat rather than our kitchen table (which resides in the living because of our small kitchen) so that we can watch TV. Another of love of mine: TV. I think I should start posting what I watched while I ate the meals I am blogging about. Tonight we watched an online preview of Modern Family and it was AWESOME. I highly recommend this show. Hilarious!

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for...

Now, I am no "next food network star," but I did make this short video with my sister about my process. Watch and enjoy! I love how my sister is eating through the whole thing.



And a funny picture, just because.

Cooking with the Family!!!

Another guest kitchen! When I was home at my parents house, we decided to cook. Again, so nice to cook in a big kitchen. First we made hummus but I didn't post that. My dad doctored it up with spices and hot sauce and it tasted real good. Then we set out to make pasta with vegan pesto sauce, corn, and some sauteed swiss chard.

Let me introduce you to some of things in my parent's kitchen. They have a weird garlic-shaped garlic holder. This was new. Not around when I was growing up.


They have an awesome knife that cuts so much better than mine that cost me $4.

And they have a crappy blender. This blender did not really blend things well. Or at all. It was the one thing that made me miss my kitchen.


In the blender is the pesto. My brother insisted on adding lots of pepper to this pesto.


He also helped stir the pasta. He was really into cooking. That is his pajama shirt and also the shirt I gave out at my Bat Mitzvah.



My dad got this awesome swiss chard at the farmer's market. It was fresh and delicious.

We cooked it in the nice, big pan my parents have. It is great.

The corn was just boiled. Not exciting. Here is our meal! Made as a family. Awwww. I used 2 plates just to show it really is a guest kitchen!

Bean Salad...Thanks Jennifer!

This past week I made a bean salad. I got the recipe from my friend and co-worker Jennifer. She makes it the best. It has black beans, corn, hearts of palm, red onion, cilantro, lemon juice. I think that is all. I started by chopping the red onion but I put WAY too much in. My breath and kitchen smelled like onion all week.



Then I added a can of corn and two cans of hearts of palm because I love hearts of palm. Sadly, I just found out they are fatty and high in cholesterol. Sad. Then I used a technique I use often in my tiny kitchen. I balanced the tupperware (which I was using as a big bowl) on my stomach so I could add in the beans. I am very skilled.



It is hard to see in this picture but it is a good technique if you have no counter space. I added salt, pepper and lemon juice. I didn't have cilantro so it I left it out. Next time, less onion! I served it with the hummus I had made and some pita chips.

It tasted good with the hummus. My plate and my stomach were satisfied.

Guest Kitchen!!

This weekend I was at my boss's house in Speonk, Long Island for a visit and I made us lunch. So his kitchen is making a guest appearance on my blog.


It was so nice to make in a big kitchen with a real big food processor. Made me resent my 4 inches of counter space. I made my vegan pesto which I make pretty often. He went out and got me basil from the vegetable market. It was beautiful basil. Very fresh, green and full. I also had help from a sous chef, my sister.

I have to give her credit for figuring out the trick to the food processor. The pesto came out good. I made it by putting the basil and garlic (which I cooked a little in some tin foil first) into the food processor. Then I added some cooked asparagus which holds it together. Finally, some salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Buon Appetite!