cheese

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Posted by Rex on January 03, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Recipes, Sandwiches, cheese / 3 Comments

Yesterday I made homemade Tomato Soup.  Nothing pairs better with Tomato Soup than a grilled cheese.  I wanted to create the ultimate grilled cheese.  To do that I had to take a trip to the supermarket.  I wanted a nice thick crust so I started with a Rustic Wheat Bread.  Hand sliced to perfection.  Then I picked up the only ripe tomato available in all of DC.  Finally I spent a little time in the cheese department.  The base was Mozzarella.  Great flavor and melts wonderfully.  Next came the nice cured Manchego cheese.  This sheep’s milk cheese melts great when shredded and has an amazing creamy texture and a slight salty taste.  Perfect for a grilled cheese.  Finally came the Gruyere.  A cow’s milk cheese that has a great texture and flavor that works well with the other cheeses used in this Ultimate Grilled Cheese.

Grilled Cheese

Grilled Cheese

I love grilled cheese and this is the best I have had.

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White Truffle Twice Baked Potatoes

Posted by Rex on July 23, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Bacon, Potatoes, Recipes / No Comments

The other day I needed a tasty side dish to serve with some juicy grillled steaks.  I looked around my kitchen and I found a couple baking potatoes.  I decided to make some twice baked potatoes.  To spice it up, I added some white truffle oil to the mix.  I know this is cheating, but I can not afford white truffles.  At around $2000 a pound I don’t think most of us could afford them.  Truffle oil is a great alternative to add that magnificent earthy flavor to dishes.

White Truffle Twice Baked Potatoe

White Truffle Twice Baked Potato

With the addition of cheddar cheese, this pototo is amazing.

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Bacon Crusted Quiche

Posted by Rex on July 12, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Bacon, Recipes, eggs / 2 Comments

I love brunch and I love quiche. However, today I didn’t feel like making a pie crust so I made a bacon crust for the quiche. Basically you form it like you would a real pie crust. You need to blind bake it with the help of some parchment and beans. Then you fill with your egg mixture and serve. Completely amazing.

Awesome, all crusts should be made of bacon.

Awesome, all crusts should be made of bacon.

You need to make sure to fully cook the bacon before you add the egg mixture as it won’t get crispy with the egg mixture on top of it.

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One Pan – Macaroni and Cheese

Posted by Rex on July 02, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Cheap Eats, Pasta, Recipes / No Comments

Over the past week I have been cleaning out my pantry trying to cook everything that I could without going to the grocery store. Needless to say, I was running low on everything. Then I noticed that I had a bag of mozzarella cheese in the fridge and about a 1/2 cup of milk. Sounds like Macaroni and Cheese to me.

So creamy and delicious.  Makes you wonder why you ever buy the box stuff.

So creamy and delicious. Makes you wonder why you ever buy the box stuff.

This recipe is quick and easy. Only took about 10 minutes to make, not counting the 5 minutes to heat up the water. Heating up water isn’t really cooking and thus does not count towards cooking time.
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Chorizo Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Posted by Rex on June 29, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Chorizo, Recipes, Sausages, Vegetables, Zucchini / 1 Comment

My friend Jeff went to visit his family in Tennesse and when he came back he brought with him some of the biggest zucchini that I have ever seen.  They were massive.  It almost seemed as if they were some result of a nuclear accident, as they were huge.  After I got over the shock of seeing the giant zucchini, we got down to business.  Jeff said that zucchini that are huge usually don’t have the best flavor, so we should use them as boats, or serving vessels for other ingredients.  I agreed and went to the store to pick up something to fill them with.  When I came back we had all of the fixins for chorizo stuffed zucchini boats.

With just a little bit of spice from the chorizo this bite was awesome

With just a little bit of spice from the chorizo this bite was awesome

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Flank Steak Tacos

Posted by Rex on June 27, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Mexican, Recipes, Tacos, beef / 4 Comments

Last week my friend Jeff had me over for a little grilling and drinking.  I brought the Corona and he gave me the workings for a great steak taco.  I must say, having a food website has open doors.  Everyone wants me to come over, but in return I have to do the cooking.  I have absolutely no problem with that.  Jeff had a nice flank steak that we grilled and made tacos with.

The tequila makes these amazing

The tequila makes these amazing

Grilled Steak Tacos with Roasted Peppers

  • 1lb flank steak
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 tequila
  • 2 limes
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbs cumin
  • 1 tbs oregano
  • 1 tbs onion powder
  • 1 tbs chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Roasted Peppers

  • 6 poblano peppers
  • 1 zip top bag for steaming the peppers

Lay the flank steak out on a cutting board and dry it off with a towel.

The flank steak

The flank steak

With a flank steak I usually tenderize it before I use it.  To do that use a hard object or a meat tenderizer and hammer the meat.  This will tenderize it and make it so that it is not too chewy.

Take all of your aggression and use it against the poor helpless piece of meat.

Take all of your aggression and use it against the poor helpless piece of meat.

Mix all of the seasonings above and place in a zip top bag.  You can add as much tequila as you like.  Jeff likes tequila so I think that we added about a 1/2-3/4 cup of tequila.

Add as much tequila as you like.

Add as much tequila as you like.

Then seal the bag and squeeze as much air out as you can.  Then refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.  2-3 hours is preferred.

Jeff was a great hand model.  I think he has a future in the business.

Jeff was a great hand model. I think he has a future in the business.

Just like the shrimp tacos from a couple of days ago, we are going to serve these with roasted peppers.  While the meat marinades, roast the peppers.  Place the peppers on high heat and turn them every minute or so until all of the sides are blackened.

It is alright to let them burn as it will make the skins come off easier.

It is alright to let them burn as it will make the skins come off easier.

Make sure to rotate them so that all of the sides get blackened.

Once all of the sides are blistered and black time to remove them from the grill

Once all of the sides are blistered and black time to remove them from the grill

Remove them from the grill when blistered and place in a plastic bag.   The plastic bag will help to steam the skins off.

Zip top bags make the perfect container for steaming the skins off.

Zip top bags make the perfect container for steaming the skins off.

After about 10 minutes it is time to peel the skins.  As you can see, the skins come off in giant sheets.

It might be a little dirty, but this is a hands on sort of thing.

It might be a little dirty, but this is a hands on sort of thing.

Slice into strips and serve these tender, smokey, and tasty treats with any and everything.

Now that the peppers are done, it is time to grill the meat.  Place the flank steak on the grill over high heat and sear the outside. 

Place the meat on a pre-heated grill

Place the meat on a pre-heated grill

After about 5-7 minutes you should have good grill marks.  When you have good grill marks and the meat looks golden it is time to flip.

Flip when you have good carmelization

Flip when you have good carmelization

Now continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes.  The meat should be about medium-medium well.  Remove and let the meat sit for 5 minutes before carving.  This will let the juices redistribute throughout the meat.  Then carve the meat into thin strips.  Make sure to cut against the grain.  Otherwise, the meat will be chewy.

Make sure to cut against the grain

Make sure to cut against the grain

Serve the steak tacos on a flour tortilla with some cheese, roasted peppers, salsa and some sour cream.  Makes for a perfect summer meal.

The tacos are great with just a little lime juice to add a tad bit more acidity.

The tacos are great with just a little lime juice to add a tad bit more acidity.

These tacos were the best of the night.  The meat was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was awesome.  Now that it is summer time, it is time to grill.  You don’t always have to make burgers and hot dogs.  Next time make grilled steak tacos.

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Food & Wine Festival At National Harbor

Posted by Rex on June 07, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Cooking, Events, Things to do in DC / 1 Comment

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor. It was a lot of fun. There was wine tasting, beer tasting, liquor tasting and food. Lots and lots of food.  Plus, I got to hang out with Carla and Ariane from Top Chef Season 5.

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The National Harbor was the perfect back drop for this event.  It also didn’t hurt that the event was located on the pier.  The location was awesome. 

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Cheesy Poofs – Cheap Eats

Posted by Rex on June 04, 2009 - Print This Post Print This Post
Baking, Cheap Eats, Recipes, cheese, snacks / No Comments

Yesterday I reviewed “I’m just here for MORE FOOD” and there was a recipe for Cheesy Poofs. Yes, those cheesy staples of Eric Cartman from South Park.  So I had to try them.  They are amazing.  Not quite the cheddar ones that have the cheetah on them, but they are tasty none the less.  This is the ultimate cheap eats.  Making snacks at home can save you a ton of money.  Plus, you know what goes into each snack, so they are good for the kids.

Below I have included Eric’s ode to Cheesy Poofs.

I love cheesy poofs almost as much as Cartman, although I have never written a song about them.

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