Pastelon de Platanos Maduros

Description
Sweet plantain baked with every thing, but the kitchen sink.

Ingredients

 * ½ to 1 once of cooking ham or ham steak. ( washed and diced )
 * 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
 * 2 to 3 tablespoons of sofrito
 * 1 pound of ground beef
 * 2 to 3 hard boiled eggs (chilled and chopped )
 * 6 to 8 Spanish olives (chopped coarsely)
 * 1 teaspoon of capers
 * 1 teaspoon of ground oregano
 * ⅛ teaspoon of white vinegar
 * 1 x 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
 * ½ pound of fresh green string beans (trimmed and washed in cold water )
 * 4 to 6 large ripe plantains peeled and sliced length wise (about ¼ in thick, place sliced plantains in a bowl of cold water large enough to hold all the plantains)
 * vegetable oil or shortening for frying.
 * 6 extra large eggs

Directions

 * 1) In a large hot frying pan or caldero add one tablespoon of olive oil and brown the diced cooking ham.
 * 2) Add sofrito and reduce heat.
 * 3) Let simmer for about 5 to seven minutes.
 * 4) Add ground beef and raise heat enough to brown meat without burning the other ingredients in the pot.
 * 5) Once the ground beef done make sure to skim off all the fat before adding the following ingredients.
 * 6) Add the rest of the ingredients from step.
 * 7) 3 add salt and pepper to taste allow to simmer covered for at least 15 minutes.
 * 8) Once it is done remove from heat and set aside.
 * 9) Bring 3 - 4 cups of cold water with ½ of teaspoon of salt to a boil.
 * 10) Add string beans and allow to blanch for 3 to 5 minutes, remove and drain.
 * 11) Place under cold running water drain and set aside.
 * 12) Place enough vegetable oil or shortening in a frying pan or caldero to deep fry the plantain slices.
 * 13) Place plantains in the hot oil and deep fry until golden brown, make sure not to over cook them.
 * 14) When they are done remove and drain on a paper towel.
 * 15) Repeat this process until you have fried all the plantain slices.
 * 16) Once done set aside.
 * 17) Place eggs in a bowl add about ¼ teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of cold water, and beat until the mixture is nice and smooth.
 * 18) Grease or oil a large baking dish or large cast iron frying pan.
 * 19) Add ½ of the egg mixture.
 * 20) Place slices of plantains in the bottom of the pan or dish in order to create the bottom layer.
 * 21) Add enough of the meat mixture to cover the plantains.
 * 22) Add enough string beans to cover the meat mixture.
 * 23) Add another layer of plantains.
 * 24) Add about ½ of the remaining egg mixture.
 * 25) Continue this process until you have used all the ingredients (just remember to make sure that your final layer must be made up of plantains).
 * 26) Add the last of the egg mixture making sure that it covers the whole top of the dish or pan, if you feel that you need more beat another 2 eggs and pour the mixture over the top of the final layer.
 * 27) Pre heat your oven at 350 °F.
 * 28) Place mixture in the oven and bake from 3o to 45 minutes.
 * 29) At the end of the cooking time place a knife in the center if it comes out with no egg residue your pastelon is done remove from oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes.
 * 30) Slice and serve as you would a portion of pie or lasagna.