Garlic Mashed Plantains by Ambiorix Burgos - from "GourMets" (2007)

RECIPE

1 tbsp. salt, dissolved in 4 cups of water
3 ripe plantains
1/4 cup milk
3 tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Bring salted water to boil. Leaving peel on, cut plantains in half and add to boiling water. Place lid on saucepan and boil plantains rapidly for 20 minutes. Drain, peel and place into a mixing bowl. Beat in milk, butter, garlic, salt and pepper until mixture reaches mashed potato consistency.

This is an excellent side dish to accompany grilled steak and baby carrots.

Ambiorix loves this dish.

Ambiorix Burgos' Mets career lasted just 17 games in 2007. He was traded to New York after two seasons in Kansas City, and things went downhill fast. He had to undergo Tommy John surgery and was shut down for most of the season. He never returned to the big leagues and was released by the Mets in 2008.

Things get really dark from there. Burgos' Wikipedia entry is quite the read:

On September 9, 2008, Burgos was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. Prosecutors say he repeatedly punched her on the back, bit her and slapped her. On March 12, 2009, a jury convicted Burgos for the assault. Sentencing was scheduled for April 3.

On October 1, 2008, Burgos was indicted on charges of hit and run in his native Dominican Republic. Sources say that Burgos struck two women in his SUV and drove off. The women later died of their injuries. Burgos turned himself in to authorities on October 7.

On August 27, 2010, Burgos was accused of kidnapping and poisoning his ex-wife. Police in the Dominican Republic charged Burgos with kidnapping and attempted murder.

Holy hell what a downfall. Not every baseball life ends well.

Let's talk about the plaintains. This was one of the clubhouse recipes provided in "GourMets", and it turned out really good. A sweeter alternative to mashed potatoes. You can add more butter or milk, depending on which consistency you prefer. I used a lot more in the photo above.

With a fresh, hot bowl of plaintains done, I decided to pair them with a pulled beef stew recipe also out of "GourMets". Rolled everything up into burritos. Creamy sweet plus savoury beef, it turned out great.