Yummy Baked Plantains

Choose as many very ripe plantains as you feel like cooking, or about 1 per person.  pick ones that have black spots on skin and are a little squishy.)

Coconut oil spray (Trader Joe's has this in stock) or other cooking spray.  You can use olive oil if you like but the spray adds less fat to the recipe
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)

**Season the plantains with whatever flavors appeal to you.  My husband likes using Italian seasoning on them.  I love them with Trader Joes South African Smoked Seasoning.  The point is they are good plain or spicy.

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.  Spray cookie sheet with coconut oil spray.  Some people use parchment paper or tinfoil when cooking plantains because they can stick to pan, but I just use cooking spray.
3.  Cut off ends of plantains.  Make slice down the middle off the skin and peel it off.  Make sure to get all the ropey fiber off.  Slice plantain in 1/2 inch diagonals.  Lay them flat on cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, spices.  Spray top with coconut oil spray.
4.  Cook for approximately 15 minutes turning them once about half way through.  It really depends how firm you want them.  I like my plantains browned and semi- firm.  If you like them firmer cut them thinner and cook a little longer.  They will burn so you need to keep an eye on them if you are going to cook longer.

Serve plain or as part of a meal.  I like mine with a black bean ranchero sauce taco.  I add a few tablespoons of adobo sauce to add some heat to the meal.  The recipe for ranchero sauce is on this blog site below.

http://psychobabble4u.blogspot.com/2013/02/butternut-squash-and-ranchero-sauce.html