Oct 13, 2014

Inspired by the Movie "Chef" - Here's My Version of Grilled Cheese with Homemade Salsa

Have you watched the movie Chef? It's about a restaurant chef losing his job and started the food truck business, plus the life story behind of course. You'll find lots of local goodies throughout the movie such as the all time favorite grilled cheese, Cuban sandwich, beignet, Texas style barbecue, and more. 

The movie makes viewers mouth-watering and craving to get a hold of one of these foods on the screen. There's not really a grilled cheese sandwich specialty here in Taiwan. So what should I do? Roll up the sleeves, I'm going to make my own version of grilled cheese, salsa style!


Grilled cheese sandwich with homemade salsa -





Ingredients (for one)?

  • 2 slices of milk toast
  • 2 tablespoons/about 20 grams of unsalted butter
  • 2 Cheddar cheese squares
  • 2 Emmental cheese squares
  • 2 Gouda cheese squares
  • Some homemade salsa


How?

I've got some leftover salsa from a small house gathering. It's a simplified version of salsa, which is very easy to make. Basic ingredients including a couple of ripe tomatoes, 1/2 onion, some jalapeno or red chilies if preferred, some cilantro, 1/2 lime, salt, and black pepper. Dice all the ingredients and mix together, adjust the taste with salt and lime juice. 


I'll remember to post an updated salsa recipe in the future, the one currently on my blog was back in 2008 and definitely needs to be revamped.


Brush all the semi-melted butter on one side of the milk toasts. Sear the toasts buttered side down with a non-stick skillet or cast iron pan. Evenly layer the cheese squares on each toast, I put the Emmental first, followed by Gouda, and finally Cheddar, but it shouldn't make too much difference just the color presentation looks better this way (white - yellow - white).




Use medium low heat if you're uncertain if the toasts will burn without the cheese melting at all. Once the cheese melts a little on the edges, scoop in some salsa onto one of the toasts. Use a spatula and gently lift up the toasts to check on the color. If it's turning brownish then flip the toast onto the one with salsa, do not press it down. 


This step is not required: You can even add a little more butter to the skillet and gently lift up the sandwich to sear all four sides, but it does require some skills without having the salsa fall off. 

Carefully remove the grilled cheese away from heat and cut in half before serving. You'll know the sandwich is a success when the knife runs down the bread hearing that crunchy sound, and of course the lusciously melting, oozing cheese.




Next time let me make a peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese sandwich. My mouth is watering just visualizing this idea. 


Other sandwich and light burger recipes:




Oct 7, 2014

It's Afternoon Tea Time! Coconut Madeleines, Recipe Courtesy of Ina Garten from the Food Network

One girl friend came over for a little afternoon tea gathering. It might take quite some effort making layer cake just for two of us, so I figured eye-pleasing madeleines should be a good substitute. This recipe was obtained from the Food Network website, courtesy of Ina Garten, one of my favorite hosts from the channel.

Coconut Madeleines -




Ingredients (makes about 24 madeleines)?

*Recipe courtesy from the Food Network website, courtesy of Ina Garten*
*My own coconut madeleines recipe back in 2010 that makes about 12 pieces*


  • 1/4 pound or 1 stick of melted/cooled unsalted butter 
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter (to grease the pan)
  • 3 extra large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup of all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup of corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • Some apricot reserve (adapted, optional)


How?


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Melt a little bit of butter and brush onto the madeleine pan -




Dust with flour to prevent sticking -




Take a big bowl and sift together the flour, baking powder, corn starch, and salt.


Take another big bowl and beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract with a hand held mixer. Takes about 3 minutes or until the mixture turns fluffy with light yellow color. Add in 1 stick of melted/cooled butter and mix well.


Pour in the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients, in two batches, mix well. Stir in the shredded coconut.




Use a spoon and drop the batter to the madeleine mold, fill up till almost full. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the madeleines spring back when pressed.




Serve with apricot reserve or other types of fruity jam. You can also dust with confectioner's sugar or even dipped the madeleines in ganache.




You can taste tiny bits of shredded coconut, pretty good already even without the extra dusting or fruity jam on the side.



The outcome was a success, especially when pairing the coconut madeleines with apricot reserve. The jam adds extra fruitiness and a pop of color on the table. Even though I got a little lazy and decided not to bake a full on cake, but for sure the madeleines were quite a guest pleaser. Not mentioning there were also freshly brewed mango black tea, some bread, homemade salsa, and homemade crème brûlée on the table.  

We were eating like queens.


Other madeleines recipe: