***Piratey Cooking: Fried Plantain Chips, --- Oh, YUM!... (Plantains are a type of green banana that grows in the tropics.)

     They're also called, in Spanish, Platanos and they're delicious!  You can buy them at most big grocery stores.
   
     You'll need green or half ripe plantains, salted water, oil for deep frying and salt.  Peel and slice the plantains 1/2 inch thick.  Soak the slices for at least 30 minutes in salted water.  Drain, pat dry with paper towels.  Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan and saute the slices until they're tender.  Drain on paper towels.  Lay a sheet of waxed paper over the plantain slices and flatten them evenly until they're about half as thick as before.  Dip the pressed slices in salted water,  then fry until crispy brown on both sides.  Drain on paper towels and salt lightly.  (Each plantain makes about 15 chips.)