Big Cheese Squeeze Alton Brown Recipes

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE

Steps:

• Place two 10-inch cast-iron skillets over high heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spread the mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with pepper, and top with the second slice of bread. Brush the bread surface with the clarified butter. Go for even coverage, but don't soak the bread or it won't brown.
• When the pans are hot, kill the heat and place the sandwich, top-side down, in the middle of skillet number 1. Brush the newly exposed bread face with butter and lay the bottom of skillet number 2 right down on top of the sandwich. Wait. In 3 to 5 minutes, you will hear the sizzle of melted cheese oozing out into the pan. (If you don't, you went skimpy with the cheese.)
• Gently remove the top skillet and use a flat metal spatula to remove the sandwich to a waiting cutting board and wait 60 seconds. You will be hungry, so at this time you may want to examine skillet number 1 for toasty little bits of cheese, which you can hungrily devour. When 60 seconds is up, you may wish to cut the sandwich in half with a serrated knife. It won't make the sandwich taste any better, but there's something about biting into that cut side that's very satisfying.

QUICK COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour the skim milk into a large saucepan and place over medium heat. Heat to 120 degrees F. Remove from the heat and gently pour in the vinegar. Stir slowly for 1 to 2 minutes. The curd will separate from the whey. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a colander lined with a tea towel and allow to sit and drain for 5 minutes. Gather up the edges of the cloth and rinse under cold water for 3 to 5 minutes or until the curd is completely cooled, squeezing and moving the mixture the whole time. Once cooled, squeeze as dry as possible and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add the salt and stir to combine, breaking up the curd into bite-size pieces as you go. If ready to serve immediately, stir in the half-and-half or heavy cream. If not, transfer to a sealable container and place in the refrigerator. Add the half and half or heavy cream just prior to serving.

CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Use room temperature butter to grease an 8-inch souffle mold. Add the grated Parmesan and roll around the mold to cover the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the freezer for 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan, heat the butter. Allow all of the water to cook out.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Whisk this mixture into the melted butter. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the hot milk and turn the heat to high. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from the heat.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks to a creamy consistency. Temper the yolks into the milk mixture, constantly whisking. Remove from the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until glossy and firm. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the base. Continue to add the whites by thirds, folding very gently.
• Pour the mixture into the souffle. Fill the souffle to 1/2-inch from the top. Place on an aluminum pie pan. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. Two (10-inch) cast iron skillets are ideal. Heat them over high heat.
• Meanwhile, spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with fresh black pepper and top with second piece of bread.
• Spritz the bread surface that's staring up at you with olive oil using either a Misto or a pump sprayer. A light coat will do, don't soak.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, top-side down in the middle of one pan. (if your pans are a different size, this would be the smaller one.) Spritz the slice now facing you, as well as the bottom of the other skillet. Lay the skillet right on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weigh it down with a brick, can, or something of similar heft.
• Wait patiently, crack a beer. When you hear the first bit of cheese run out and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the top skillet, (you may need to coax it off with a spatula, but I doubt it). Just look at it. It's perfect ... better than mom's. (no reason to tell her)
• Remove to a plate, count to 10 and slice it in half. Take a bite. Take another. So they lost ... there's always next year.

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. 2 10" cast iron skillets are ideal. Don't use non-stick; it's not safe to heat a non-stick skillet to these temperatures when empty. Place both skillets over high heat.
• Spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with a twist of freshly ground black pepper and top with the second slice of bread (which you may spread with mustard or not, as you choose). Lightly spritz the upward-facing bread surface with olive oil, using a mister.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, oiled side down, in the middle of one pan. Lightly spritz the side now facing you, as well as the bottom of the second pan. Place the second pan on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weight it down with a brick or heavy can.
• When you hear the first drop of cheese run out of the sandwich and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take 3-5 minutes. Remove to a plate, count to 10 (to let the cheese set up ever so slightly), cut in half and serve.