Andale, andale, AREPAS!

Ok, so I've officially discovered a new obsession. Best of all? My gluten free people (my mother and best girlie are both allergic) can eat as many as they want! YEY! Just as cool? It's a BLD ~ Breakfast Lunch Dinner. Yup, these little beauties can be consumed anytime, anywhere. Stuff them  with a fried egg for breakfast, PB & J for lunch, and latin style chicken for dinner! See why I'm obsessed? I've finally discovered the perfect food.

Oh, and did I mention that a blindfolded two-year-old could make them? Yup, they're that easy.

Breakfast (honey and butter)

Lunch (fried egg & cheese w/salad)

Arepas:

• 2 C instant/precooked corn flour
• 1 T sugar (if you're making breakfast/dessert arepas you can put up to 3 T)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 1/2 C warm water
• Oil for frying (use vegetable, corn, canola, or even peanut oil as they have much higher smoking points that olive oil and are better suited for frying)

Dinner (Shredded chicken, avocado,
cilantro, and habanero cheese)

  Preheat oven to 400° F and adjust oven rack to center position.
  Combine all of the dry ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl.  Gradually add the water and stir (I used a rubber spoonula and found it worked best) until the mixture becomes a play-dough like consistency.
  Using wet hands (this just helps the dough stick to itself and not you) grab a fistful and form into a round disk about 1/2 inch thick. You can form several of these, but be sure to keep a damp cloth over the ones you aren't working on so they wont dry out.
  Heat a few tablespoons of oil over med-high heat in a large frying pan. (I prefer my cast iron skillet for this.) Once the oil begins to ripple and shimmer, add 4-5 cakes, not letting them touch one another.
  Cook on each side until golden, then transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and back for about 10 min. You'll know they are done when you tap the bottom and it sounds a little hollow.
  You know that whole thing about waiting for something to cool so you don't burn yourself, don't do it! Just use a towel to hold the arepas while they are still hot, and cut them open. The heat is perfect for melting cheese, butter, honey, whatever sounds great at the moment.
  Fill generously and devour immediately. Just be careful, they can be addictive.

Yield: aprrox 8 arepas

Arepas: They almost look like golden cookies.