Bite with Belkys: Black Beans & Rice served with Palomilla Steak from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 47 in Westchester

The Chef: Omar Cuartas

The Restaraunt: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 47 in Westchester

The Dish: Black Beans & Rice served with Palomilla Steak

• 6 cans black beans
• 2 green peppers
• 1 red pepper
• 1 orange pepper (if can't find orange use two red peppers instead)
• 3 bunches of scallions
• 2 Spanish chorizos
• ¼ package of sliced bacon (optional)
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• Cumin (to taste)
• Balsamic Vinegar (to taste)
• 3 Bay Leaves
• 4 cans of water

Chop all the peppers and scallions, set aside. Slice the chorizos and bacon and cook over medium heat in a frypan. No need to use any oil in the frypan since the bacon and chorizo will release some in the cooking process. Once you have them cooked ,about after 5min, remove them from the pan. Drain most of the oil left in the frypan and use the remainder to saute' the peppers & scallions.

Add all the ingredients you just cooked, including the 4 cans of water and beans into a large pot. At this point I usually add the salt & pepper, cumin, bay leaves and balsamic vinegar to the mix. I like to begin this early in the morning so i can let the beans simmer over low heat all day. The longer you let it simmer the better the flavors will integrate plus I like to have my beans thick at the end of all this cooking not watered down. You will want to stir it every now and then or the bottom will stick. I like to serve the beans over some white rice.

• 10 large, thin sliced steaks
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• cracker meal
• salt & pepper (to taste)

Combine the eggs and milk in a bowl. Season the steaks. Dip them in the egg and milk mixture, then in the cracker meal. Fill a frying pan with corn oil and place the steak into the pan and cook till golden brown on both sides. Place steak on paper towel lined plate when finished to remove excess oil.

If you don't like steak, the beans and rice may be served with chicken.

Serves 10 Firemen or 20 people.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 47 in Westchester
http://www.miamidade.gov/mdfr/